WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 112 | ISSUE 7
The Oprah Effect
Let the Madness Begin: Wildcats Named Fifth Seed in South Region
Rachel Reiniger Staff Writer
Oprah Winfrey’s Sunday night interview with Meghan and Harry was raw, shocking and let the public in on what it is actually like to be a royal. Spoiler alert: not everything is as it seems, and Markle’s time in the palace was definitely not like Anne Hathaway’s experience in “The Princess Diaries.” The similarities between Markle and Princess Diana’s telling of the press is uncanny. And, as Harry pointed out in the interview, he did not want his mother’s history to repeat itself for his wife. While there are many similarities, Markle’s received racial discrimination in tabloids adds a whole new element to the mix that escalates the concern for privacy, security and mental health. Beyond the twisted stories and obsessive narratives in the media, Markle spoke on legitimate problems within the royal family. The denial to help while her mental health plummeted and conversations surrounding her child’s race were the most alarming. The so-called protection that the royal family gives to its members who are willing to complicit to silence is not sheltered from its own discriminatory practices. As Markle claims she soon realized, the alienating feelings evoked from the media only worsened in the palace, describing it as “insurvivable.” Her mental health crisis worsened to suicidal thoughts and, when she sought help, she was denied resources. There were also several conversations regarding the color of the couple’s children while she was pregnant with Archie, and people in the royal family were expressing concern for what this would mean for their image as a whole. While there were no specific names dropped, Harry did later
Continued on p. 5
The Villanova Wildcats enter the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Region with a 16-6 record. Courtesy of Michael Hickey, Getty Images
Billy Vinci Co-Sports Editor
After the tournament cancellation in 2020, the Villanova Wildcats were named a five seed in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Region. The Wildcats stand at 16-6 on the season and went 11-4 in Big East regular season play. The Wildcats won the Big East regular season title, but lost starting senior point guard Collin Gillespie for the season in the March 3 game against Creighton when he tore his MCL. Since then, the Wildcats lost to Providence in their regular season finale and to Georgetown in
the quarterfinals of the Big East Tournament. Due to the injury and subsequent losses, Villanova fell to a five seed in the south region, where it will take on the Winthrop Eagles on Friday in the first round. The South region is also highlighted by one seed Baylor, two seed Ohio St., three seed Arkansas and four seed Purdue. Starting with the Wildcats matchup, the Eagles went 23-1 this season, winning the Big South regular season title and tournament championship to earn a 12 seed. Their lone loss was a 57-55 defeat to the hands of UNC Asheville back on Jan. 29. Despite the Eagles’ im-
pressive record, they only received a 12-seed because their schedule is considered very weak. The best team they played all season was either UNC Greensboro or Furman. According to Kenpom.com, the Eagles’ strength of schedule stands at 309th most difficult out of 357 teams. The Eagles are certainly talented, but the Wildcats will be the toughest team they have faced this season by far. The Eagles are led by senior Chandler Vaudrin, a 6’7” forward from Uniontown, Ohio. The senior leads Winthrop in points (12.2), rebounds (7.2), assists (6.9) and steals (1.3) per game. He also is shooting 37.5%
from the three point line and 51.3% from the field. D.J. Burns is one of three other Eagles who average more than 10 points per game. The 6’9” big man from Rock Hill, South Carolina averages exactly 10 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 58.3% from the field. As a team, the Eagles are average on offense and slightly above average on defense. They are 120th in the country in adjusted offense and 70th in adjusted defense, per Kenpom.com. The defense number is respectable, but the Wildcats have played numerous better offenses in the Big East and even Continued on p. 2
Student Share Perspectives on Sexual Assault Julia Stanisci
Co-Culture Editor As most, if not all, Villanovans know by now, on Wednesday, March 3, David Tedjeske, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police, sent an email to the University community detailing multiple reports of sexual assault on campus. The email listed two reports of sexual assault,
one on March 1 involving four female resident students assaulted by the same male student, and another on Feb. 28, involving a female student who was treated for sexual assault at Bryn Mawr Hospital. Since then, the University community has been reeling in reaction, some speaking out against these heinous acts and the University’s handling of them, others taking action with
petitions and campaigns. On Wednesday, March 10, the University’s Student Government Associ-
ation hosted a Town Hall to address the recent sexual misconduct. The Town Hall was Continued on p. 3
Students share their thoughts. Courtesy of Sarah Jones
SGA Hosts Town Hall to Discuss Sexual Assaults p. 2
Kappa Delta Raises Money for PCAA p. 4
Teresa Briggs Speaks to VSB Students for Women’s Day p. 4
A Year in the Pandemic and the Lessons Learned p. 6
Letter from the Editors: Addressing Sexual Assault p. 7
Opinion: Biden’s Foreign Policy is More of the Same p. 8
The Villanovan Editorial Board Bracket Predicitions p. 11
Regional Review of NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket p. 12-13
Stress Relief: Maintainng Mental Health in College p. 18
Book of the Week: Normal People by Sally Rooney p. 15
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PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER
VOL. 112 | ISS. 7 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
CATE McCUSKER JACK ROBERGE MADISON BURKE ARIANA MEGERIAN SARAH SWEENEY SARAH WISNIEWSKI TINA ARON VIVI MELKONIAN A.J. FEZZA ELENA ROUSE JULIA STANISCI COLIN BEAZLEY BILLY VINCI MOLLY BAKER
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
NEWS
Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief Associate Editor-in-Chief Digital Editor News Editor News Editor Opinion Editor Opinion Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Culture Editor Sports Editor Sports Editor Copy Desk Chief
MICHAEL BRADLEY Advisor DEENA SMITH Advisor CONTACT villanovan.eic@gmail.com
Disorderly Conduct / Criminal Mischief March 12 Connelly Center A university employee was charged with Criminal Mischief and Disorerly Conduct after destroying $400.00 worth of university property. Disrupting Meetings and Processions March 12 Bartley Hall A faculty member reported an unknown person had entered a Zoom meeting and displayed an offensive video. Criminal Mischief March 13 St. Mary’s Gate An unknown male intentionally caused damage to University property.
Harrassment – Strike, Kick, Shove / Simple Assault March 14 Friar Hall An unaffiliated female was charged with Simple Assault and Harassment after assaulting a resident female student . Liquor Underage March 14 Mendel Hall Three resident students, under the age of 21, and five resident students, over the age of 21, were found in possession of alcohol in an academic building.
Workplace Wednesday’s Spring 2021: Journey from College to Career March 18 12:30 p.m. Virtual
CONFIRMED CUMULATIVE CASES AS OF 6:00 P.M. TUESDAY, MARCH 16
962 970,717 30,231,550 121,273,472 Villanova University
Pennsylvania
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 Working Break II March 16 – 17 All Day
COVID-19 TRACKER
United States
Nova Quizzo March 18 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Campus Green Friday Jummah Prayers March 19 1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. St. Rita of Cascia Community Room
Sarah Jaffe Book Talk March 18 4:00 p.m. Virtual
ME Seminar Series Spring 2021 – Dr. Nicholas Glavin March 19 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Virtual
2021 Literary Festival: Bryan Washington March 18 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Virtual
Junior Ring Blessing March 19 6:00 p.m. Topper Theatre of the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts
Church Today: Responding to the Sexual Abuse Crisisin the Catholic Church March 20 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Virtual (Registration Required)
Worldwide
Mindfulness Mondays Meditation March 22 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Virtual NCAA March Madness Men’s Basketball Begins March 18 4:00 p.m. NCAA March Madness Women’s Basketball Begins March 21 12:00 p.m.
Courtesy of Villanova University
Number of Tests and Confirmed Positive Cases by Day at Villanova
SGA Hosts Town Hall To Discuss Sexual Assaults Sarah Sweeney Co-News Editor
Sarah Wisniewski Co-News Editor On Wednesday, Mar. 10, University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. and the University’s Student Government Association hosted a Town Hall to address the sexual misconduct that has recently occurred on campus. Panel guests included Title IX Coordinator Ryan Rost, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police David Tedjeske, Director of Health Promotion and a Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) Stacy Andes and Student Body President Amanda Rappa. The event was specifically in response to backlash after an email was sent to students on Mar. 3 notifying the community about various reports of sexual misconduct. Students and faculty voiced disappointment in the language and timing of the email. The event took place via Zoom, which only allowed the panel guests to speak. Questions were asked through a chat setting on Zoom, and Rappa selected the questions that were asked most frequently. Rappa opened the town hall thanking Donohue and the panelists for their time and willingness to answer student questions and concerns. “This is an incredibly confusing and concerning time on campus, but we hope that this event provides clarity on a multitude of issues,” Rappa said. “The Student Government Associ-
ation’s mission is to serve as the link between students and the University’s administration. We set up this event as a chance for students to have their voices heard.” Tedjeske begun by clarifying the timeline surrounding the safety alert, which many students complained was issued too late. He explained that the incident was reported to a residential assistant on Mar. 1, and the RA submitted a report at 11 p.m. that evening. On Mar. 2, campus police were informed and immediately looked into the situation. Once they had gathered sufficient information to send an emergency notice, it was late on Mar. 2, and Tedjeske explained that it would be better to send earlier the following day, Mar. 3. After all panelists made their opening remarks, the Q&A portion of the town hall began. Rappa facilitated the discussion by choosing questions from students and posing them to the panel guests. One question addressed the case of sophomore football player Iyanu Elijah Solomon, whose acts of sexual misconduct occurred in 2019 and were never reported to the student body. Students wanted to know why Solomon’s case was dealt with differently than the recent assaults on campus. Tedjeske explained that “each case has individual characteristics.” He highlighted the University’s desire to “respect the wishes of the victim in how to proceed.” He also explained that whether information surrounding cases is made public is subject to the decision of the District Attorney, who has ultimate discretion
in whether to charge a criminal case and release information about the incident. Donohue emphasized that “no names are ever given out,” stressing that “we would never release names.” Rappa then asked the panelists why the University cannot release the name of an accused offender. Donohue explained that privacy remains a priority for all individuals involved. “It does not serve any purpose to release people’s names without students having all the information,” Donohue said. Rost then added that federal laws prohibit the release of names and that the University remains responsible for finding a resolution for all parties involved. Students then inquired about the phrase, “removed from campus,” within the Mar. 3 email. Donohue said that this goes beyond just the student being restricted from entering the University’s campus. “The person’s family was contacted and asked to bring this person to their private home,” Donohue said. “It was not simply to just be removed from campus, it was you need to leave the area.” The panelists were then asked what they want students to know about the process of reporting sexual assault. Rost emphasized that all resources the incident may be reported to, from the SARC team to Public Safety to RAs, are extensively trained and assured students that there will be a “compassionate response.” Tedjeske went on to say that victims can share as much or as little information as
they feel comfortable with. Rost emphasized that victims are never pressured into sharing more information. The final question asked how students can support survivors. Rost encouraged students to believe their friends and listen to their experiences. She also said to be patient and recognize that you may want them to take a certain action even when they may not. In the end, it is the decision of the victim to take whatever action they are comfortable with. Andes then listed the resources available for students, including 24/7 SARC services and national hotlines. Father Peter closed the Town Hall by thanking SGA, the students participating in the town hall and the panelists. “There are lots of complicated decisions that need to be made, but first and foremost there is a person who has been harmed and that person needs to be cared for in the best way we can possibly do it,” Donohue said. “All of us, together, can make this campus a very safe place.” To report a sexual assault or an act of sexual misconduct, call Public Safety at 610-519-5800, the Title IX Coordinator Ryan Rost at 610-519-8805 or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. For more information on support resources, call the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) at 484343-6028 or review the University’s sexual assault resource website at:www.villanova.edu/sexualassault. For the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
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The University Celebrates International Women’s Day Caitlyn Foley Staff Writer International Women’s Day was on Monday, Mar. 8, but it is not surprising that it almost went unnoticed. Although most university-associated social media platforms posted in support of this day, there was not a lot of discussion about it on campus. Fortunately, there are a few virtual events being hosted throughout the next few weeks for those who want to continue to celebrate this month. The University’s public Instagram account encouraged its followers to explore the @NovaWomenLead Instagram, which is run by the McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership, in support of this day and month. This organization posted several stories on Monday highlighting all of the posts from different Villanova clubs and organizations that were promoting this day. Women’s Day may have been recognized through social media, many students felt that the posts were not enough. When several female Villanova students were asked what the history of women means to them and the way they felt about how the University has been celebrating this month, the responses were all fairly similar. “In light of the recent assaults, I wish that Villanova put more of an emphasis on Women’s Day in order to show that they value the women in our community,” one female freshman said. This desire for recognition
and support from our community was not an isolated feeling. Another undergraduate female student explained that she felt as if the University’s administration, “did not recognize what had just occurred in our community,” and that the use of “non-consensual sexual assault” in the emails was frankly offensive. These two young women were in agreement that it does not feel like the University organized enough events and discussion for this national day of celebrating women, and say “it would have been nice to get some more recognition from the school.” A third undergraduate proposed a solution to this feeling of lacking appreciation and recognition. She wondered if there was a possibility that the University’s administration could “potentially host panels about life as a wom-
Women around the world marched last year to celebrate International Women’s Day. Courtesy of Getty Images
an in the business world,” or the experiences of other survivors of sexual assault who have learned to cope with this trauma and move forward with their lives. It should be recognized that during this past week, there were a handful of Zoom-based events that were focused on the discussion of women and their role on our campus and the world. This past week, the University’s organization POWER and the McNulty Institute organized an event called “Let Her Speak,” with this week’s topic specifically focused on the mental health of female students. The main goal of the McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership is “fostering women’s advancement through education, advocacy, community building and the collaborative creation of knowledge. Additionally, focusing on the meaning of women’s history,
one female student expressed that she believes learning about the history of women is “empowering.” She went on to say that she was lucky enough to have “discussed the importance of women’s history in class” this past Monday. She agreed that it would be a nice sign of support for our community to potentially host more events focused on the empowerment of our female students, but she pointed out that at least there was some light discussion on social media and in certain classrooms. The promotion of respecting women and female independence is especially crucial right now amid the injustices that have been surfacing on our campus. In order for the University administration to make the female members of its student body feel appreciated, the recognition of Women’s History Month is vital.
Ethics Department Offers Two Fellowships for Research Jackie Thomas Staff Writer The University’s Department of Ethics recently announced the establishment of two new annual undergraduate student fellowships made possible by a gift from the family of 1937 CLAS alumnus John T. McLaughlin, M.D. The John T. McLaughlin, M.D. Fellowship, the first of the two, seeks proposals surrounding bioethics or healthcare ethics, in honor of McLaughlin’s background in the medical field and his family’s wish to sponsor work in these areas. The second fellowship, named in honor of Sr. Thea Bowman, will be awarded with a preference of applicants whose proposals focus on issues affecting minority communities. This goal originated from the vision of the University’s Ethics Program Director Mark Doorley, Ph.D. “For years in the ethics program, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to focus on minority communities in particular,” Doorley said. However, these fellowships, each including a $3,000 stipend toward project research and generation, are not necessarily limited to these preference areas. Any and all compelling ethics proposals will be
considered. In general, the goal of these fellowships is to create a space for conversations and deeper understandings of ethics on campus, particularly surrounding issues that concern and affect students, as Fellowship Coordinator Krystin Sessions, Ph.D. explained. “As a department, we wanted to offer a fellowship to undergraduates to encourage more discussion around ethics on campus,” Sessions said. “We really wanted a fellowship that allowed students to take the lead, to be the ambassador in creating extra-curricular or co-curricular programming.” The student leadership aspect is a major element unique to these fellowships. In their projects, fellows will lead the charge in research, development and implementation of their creative vision. This concept breaks from some other traditional fellowships, in which students may play a more secondary, supportive role to a faculty member. “The roles are reversed here,” Sessions said. “The faculty mentor will have conversations with the fellow and help them think more deeply, but the idea and the implementation are really yours, so the faculty member takes a supporting role to that.” Along with leadership, creativity is massively important
for future McLaughlin fellows, as the call for proposals is broad and open to innovative formats. This could range from performance pieces to workshop series to virtually any idea well-suited to a student’s interest area. “We’re excited to see people bring up and offer things that we may not have considered ourselves,” Sessions said. The implementation of these student fellowships is intended to go beyond a typical research project, leaning into student creativity to explore unique topics and media. “There is a research component—we want the students to grow in knowledge in the issues that they pick—but we really encourage more creativity and innovation,” Sessions said. “It’s really focused on allowing people to use their creativity and build on their knowledge of the campus and what their peers need or would like.” The McLaughlin Fellowships’ emphasis on student creativity is rooted in its mission to encourage those meaningful ethical conversations on campus beyond students’ requisite ethics course. “I’ve always been looking for ways to communicate that ethics is not strictly academic, not limited to the classroom,” Doorley said. “The best way to facilitate
discussions about ethics on campus is through students leading the charge.” Ideal McLaughlin Fellows are students who are willing to take up the mantle to start these important dialogues with their peers and community in a creative way. “We’re looking for people who have a passion for these types of discussions, and a level of creativity and initiative that takes their project beyond the academic and into community leadership,” Sessions said. Rising juniors and seniors from all colleges are encouraged to apply for the McLaughlin Fellowship, and proposals will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Apr. 9.
The two fellowships will honor John T. McLaughlin, M.D. ‘37. Courtesy of Candice Xo
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Students Enjoy Early Spring KD Raises Money for PCAA Kat Burke Staff Writer
On Mar. 10, the University’s Main Campus flooded with masked students sitting and walking outdoors to enjoy the sunlight and warm weather that reached into the mid 60s. For many, including nursing student Kylie Barton, it was a day that lifted spirits and contributed to mental health improvement during a semester with an abundance of hardships and abnormalities. “Today definitely improved my mood,” Barton said. “It was nice to see so many people sitting outside. Usually nobody sits outside, and it feels lonely, but today the green spaces around campus were filled with people.” The wave of warm weather that began this week prompted positive reactions from the University health department as well. The CDC and health administrators have warned the public of the increased likeliness of spreading COVID-19 when gathering indoors. Outdoor gatherings in which people maintain social distancing and wear masks have been deemed much safer than those indoors. Mary E. McGonigle, Ph.D., Director of Villanova University Health Center, expressed her excitement about the warmer weather for the sake of the community’s health and safety. “Getting outside is great,” McGonigle said. “We are happy to see the warm weather and people taking advantage of the opportunity to be together outside, while still maintaining our CARITAS commitment
to wear our masks and practice social distancing.” McGonigle conveyed delight about the community’s work so far to remain on campus throughout the semester. “We are so close to finishing the school year in person,” McGonigle said. “I am so proud of the Villanova community. Keep up the good work!” Sophomore Jordan Alvarado took a study break to spend quality time with friends and get some fresh air. “Even with midterms coming up, I couldn’t help but go outside and play basketball with a few of my friends,” Alvarado said. “The weather was too nice to ignore. We all put our masks on, played music and headed to the basketball court for a few hours.” Students did work, took online classes, ate lunch and tossed footballs outdoors all day long. Molly Mook, a student who lives in Sullivan Hall on the quad, commented about her experience. “After finishing my last class of the day, I walked out of Bartley Hall and saw so many students in the quad,” Mook said. “There was such good energy. People were studying on blankets, playing football, talking with friends and a speaker was blasting some old hits. It felt like a classic college vibe and made me so excited for spring on campus.” The simple change in weather created a campus environment that people had not seen in months. This day reminded so many community members about the importance of the Caritas Commitment. As students enjoyed this beautiful day, they hoped to see many more for the remainder of the semester.
Molly Mook Staff Writer On Friday, Mar. 12, the University’s chapter of Kappa Delta hosted a cornhole tournament in order to raise money for its philanthropy, Prevent Child Abuse America. More than 75 four-person teams played in the tournament on the University’s Campus Green, and the event as a whole raised more than $4000 for PCAA. Kappa Delta focuses on building confidence within individuals, and the efforts of PCAA and the local chapter of Mission Kids achieves this for children around the country. “KD works to raise money so that PCAA has the funds to be able to do all of its amazing work,” said Kappa Delta’s VP-Community Service sophomore Julia Totoro. “Since 1981, Kappa Delta has been a proud supporter of Prevent Child Abuse America, an organization founded by the late Donna Stone, one of our own Kappa Delta sisters,” according to the national Kappa Delta website. “To date, Kappa Delta has donated more than $26 million to prevent child abuse in our country.” Kappa Delta chapters across the country hold philanthropy events called Shamrock to raise money for national and local child abuse prevention efforts, and it’s up to each individual chapter to decide what the event will be.
At the University, each woman in Kappa Delta is a captain of a four-person cornhole team, with all of the players being from outside of the sorority. “Shamrock is such a fun opportunity to get Villanova involved in supporting our philanthropy,” junior and Kappa Delta President Mariana Marquez said. “I love getting my friends outside the chapter to join my team and watching them have fun playing cornhole.” The style of the tournament was one and done, so once a team lost a round, it was eliminated and could no longer progress through the bracket. The top 10 teams were awarded prizes. There were also raffles out on the Campus Green for more fundraising opportunities. Shamrock was cancelled last year because it was scheduled to happen after the student body had been sent home for the semester due to COVID-19. “I was so excited about Shamrock this year since we have not had in-person fundraising in about a year. Planning this year was definitely difficult with all of the guidelines and restrictions, and many things kept changing, making it hard to know how the event would run,” Totoro said. “I am very happy with the turn out of the event. It was Covid safe, a lot of fun, and we raised a lot of money for PCAA.”
Teresa Briggs Speaks to VSB Students for Women’s Day Lauren Kourey Staff Writer On Mar. 12, the Villanova Consulting Group, Technology in Business Society and Women in Business Society virtually hosted Teresa Briggs on campus to speak to students within the Villanova School of Business. Briggs served as the West Region Managing Partner at Deloitte LLP and worked at the company for 37 years. Currently, she sits on the board of directors for ServiceNow, DocuSign, Snowflake, Warby Parker and VG Acquisition Corp. During her talk, Briggs captivated aspiring consultants with her optimism and extensive life experience. Within the first five minutes, she proudly mentioned being the first in her family to go to college. She received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona. When one student asked about struggles she has faced being a woman in the business world, Briggs replied, “Everyone suffers from some degree of imposter syndrome,” but she reminded the audience that “you wouldn’t have a seat at the table unless you deserved it.” Another student addressed the lack of women in consulting, in which Briggs responded by saying that there are many opportunities for women in the field because it is so
male-dominated. A well-versed expert in the field, Briggs spoke to the audience of how consulting is a “people business.” Prompted by one student’s question, Briggs discussed the general skill set needed to become a successful consultant, such as strong critical thinking skills, curiosity, maturity and overall interpersonal skills. As a surprise to some audience members, she remarked that consulting firms are looking for a diverse range of new talent, not only students within the business school. In the 37 years that Briggs spent at Deloitte, she climbed up the ladder quickly. She started as an accountant in the company’s audit practice and began supervising other accountants by her third year working there. She was promoted to the San Francisco Managing Partner in 2011 until she became West Region Managing Partner in 2013. During her time at Deloitte, she began working with Apple, and she shared her involvement with some of Apple’s fascinating projects. As Apple began to see a “war on talent” in the tech world, new talent was flocking to newer startups that were witnessing incredible growth. In response to this problem, Briggs and her team helped Apple develop a multi-year program to reinvent its talent team, including the implementation of Workday software. As such a successful business-
woman, Briggs reminded Villanova students that “every time you get promoted, you’re starting over.” She used the analogy of a senior high school student being “top dog,” only to return back to the bottom of the food chain once he or she enrolls as a college freshman. She admitted that, even now, serving on the board of directors for multiple companies, there is always someone more experienced than her. But, this has only served as motivation for her to work harder. Working with so many software companies, Briggs has observed that, in the tech world, the biggest focus in the last decade has been “moving everything to the cloud.” Mentioning how Zoom is a prime example of cloud software, she remarked how we can thank “the cloud” for such a surprisingly smooth online transition
during the COVID-19 pandemic. Answering one student’s question about predicting upcoming trends, Briggs predicted that the next trend will focus on artificial intelligence incorporation into existing software. One professor who attended Briggs’s talk reminded students that the Villanova School of Business has recently introduced an AI/Machine Learning minor to the curriculum. After attending Briggs’s talk, it was easy to see how she has had such a successful career, and she continues to pass milestones. Snowflake, a cloud-based data platform that Briggs sits on the board for, recently broke the record for the largest software IPO in history. Briggs serves as inspiration not only for women, but for all people trying to break into the business world.
Teresa Briggs spoke to business students about being a women in the industry. Courtesy of Eller College of Management
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
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Biden Addresses Nation on COVID-19 Anniversary Jack Birle Staff Writer On Thursday Mar. 11, President Joe Biden delivered a primetime address to update the nation on the coronavirus pandemic. The speech was delivered on the one year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 a pandemic. Biden, who was elected amid the pandemic, reflected on the past year and provided updates on when Americans will receive the vaccine. “While it was different for everyone, we all lost something—a collective suffering, a collective sacrifice, a year filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us,” Biden said. “But in the loss, we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect and gratitude.” Biden announced he will direct all states and territories to make coronavirus vaccines available to all adults ages 18 and over by May 1. He also stated there was a good chance families and friends may be able to gather in small groups for outdoor activities by July 4. On Mar. 8, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance for vaccinated individuals, including allowing vaccinated individuals to gather with unvaccinated individuals from one household indoors without social distancing or masks. Biden announced further guidance will be given for vaccinated individuals in the coming weeks. In the address, Biden also stated that his goal for 100 million
vaccination shots in his first 100 days in office would be achieved by his 60th day. “When I came into office you may recall I set a goal that many of you said was kind of way over the top,” Biden said. “I said I intended to get 100 million shots in people’s arms in my first 100 days in office. Tonight, I can say we’re not only going to meet
believed it was too costly and also criticized it for having several nonCOVID related initiatives. Biden also appeared to take a shot at his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, when discussing confidence in the vaccine. “I know they’re safe,” he said. “Vice President Harris and I know they’re safe. That’s why we got the vaccine publicly in front of cameras for the world to see so you could see us do it.” According to reports by The New York Times, Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump received the coronavirus vaccine in secret before leaving office in January. The Biden administration has taken several shots at the prior administration relating to the coronavirus pandemic. Most notably, members of the Biden administration falsely stated the Trump administration had no vaccine distribution plan and that one had to be created from the ground up. Biden has also received criticism in recent weeks for his lack of media availability, including being the first President in the past 100 years to not hold a press President Biden delievered a primtime address to update the nation on the coronavirus pandemic. conference within his first 33 days. Courtesy of Chris Kleponis, Getty Images. In closing his speech, Biden expressed his desire for unity that goal, we’re going to beat that historic piece of legislation that amidst the vaccination process. goal.” delivers immediate relief to mil “I promise you we’ll come Despite Biden touting the lions of people,” Biden said. “It out [of the pandemic] stronger with a goal being perceived as excessive includes $1,400 in direct rescue renewed faith in ourselves, a renewed at the time, the United States was checks, payments. That means commitment to one another to our already issuing vaccination shots a typical family of four earning communities and country,” Biden at a seven-day average of 913,912 about $110,000 will get checks said. “This is the United States of shots per day on his first full day for $5,600 deposited if they have America and there’s nothing, I believe of office. The seven-day average direct deposit or in a check, a trea- this from the bottom of my heart, number of vaccine shots issued sury check.” nothing we can’t do when we do it per day in the United States on Opponents of the bill together.” the day Biden gave his speech was 2.2 million per day, according to The New York Times. The same day Biden gave his address, he signed the American Rescue Plan into law. The $1.9 trillion spending bill passed with no Republican support in the House or the Senate. “And today, I signed into law the American Rescue Plan, an
President Biden Signs $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package Jack Matthews Staff Writer Last Friday afternoon, President Joe Biden signed into law the “American Rescue Plan Act.” This is a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill that includes money for vaccine rollout, child tax credits, funding for reopening of schools and a $1,400 stimulus check. The bill is the third stimulus package passed since the beginning of the pandemic in March of last year and expands upon many of the programs that were created in the previous packages. The bill marks the first major legislative victory of Biden’s presidency, though the final product looks different than some of the promises made during the deliberation process. Most notably is the lack of an increase in the minimum wage to $15, which progressive Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) attempted to add to the bill as an amendment. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, the unelected, nonpartisan interpreter of the rules of the Senate, nixed the proposal. She claimed it did not meet the requirements of “reconciliation,” the process Democrats used to ensure that their slim one-vote majority would be enough to pass the bill. Reconciliation, a rule passed in 1974, allows
Congress to quickly pass budget and spending legislation with a simple majority in order to more easily react to the needs of the moment. Vice President Kamala Harris has the power to overrule the parliamentarian but chose not to do so. A White House statement said the president was “disappointed” but “respects the parliamentarian’s decision.” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said after the ruling, “we are not going to give up the fight to raise the minimum wage to $15 to help millions of struggling American workers and their families.” Another key difference in the bill pertains to changes in the $1,400 stimulus checks. While campaigning for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the Georgia run-off senate elections, Biden said “their election will put an end to the block in Washington of that $2,000 stimulus check.” Supporters of the bill later said that the $1,400 included in the latest package combined with the $600 check included in a stimulus bill signed by former President Donald Trump in December of 2020 counts as a total of $2,000. The most recent package also narrows the eligibility of those who can receive the checks. Under the new bill, only individuals earning less than $80,000 and couples earning less than $160,000 annually will be eligible to receive the stimulus. Those who can be counted as dependents,
even if they are not filed as such, will not receive the checks, which means college students who are 23 years old or younger and are not paying at least half of their expenses are ineligible. Despite the changes, proponents of the bill highlight the positive impact it will have on small businesses, as well as the unemployed and students. “This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country,” Biden said during the signing. According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, stimulus checks could appear in people’s bank accounts “as early as this weekend,” referring to the weekend of March 14. Along with an increase in vaccinations, the new financial support could prompt a return to normalcy
roughly one year since COVID-19 shut down much of the American economy. The American Rescue Plan Act passed through both chambers of Congress and was signed into law without the support of a single Republican, demonstrating the increased divide between the two parties. Ten Senate Republicans, led by Senator Susan Collins (RME) presented President Biden with a $600 billion compromise package in early February, but after meeting with the President, the compromise was abandoned. In a Twitter post, Secretary of Treasury sided with the President in his push to go big with the stimulus bill, saying, “the benefits of acting now- and acting big- will far outweigh the costs in the long run.”
President Biden signs the “American Rescue Plan Act.” Courtesy of Mandel Ngan, Getty Images
6 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
OPINION
OPINION
The Oprah Effect: Influencing the Media and the Monarchy Rachel Reiniger Staff Writer Continued from p. 1
clarify with Oprah that it was not his grandmother. While many are pointing the finger at Harry’s father, Prince Charles, there is no denying that these questions are proof of a larger issue in the palace’s structure and practice. The most iconic line to come out of the interview from Oprah was, “Were you silent or were you silenced?” The crashing mental headspace was the result of a politically active woman feeling like she was no longer able to practice what she preaches –– female advocacy. It was heartbreaking to watch but also inspiring. What people see as the most glamorous and regal position to be still does not outweigh the compromise of silencing a female voice. The clear determination and passion that Markle had before meeting Harry and still has during this interview is motivational. While Markle was extremely eloquent, she was of course still met with backlash after the interview. Two people in particular, Piers Morgan and Candace Owens, had a lot to say. Morgan’s well-known obsession with Markle has not stopped since the second she ghosted him when she met
Harry. Even after watching the two hour, painfully raw interview, Morgan still said she was contradictory and lying. Owens agrees that she’s lying, but she also felt the need to denigrate someone else’s experience with racial discrimination and claim it is a part of Meghan’s “leftist narcissist” complex. The headlines are out there. They’re plastered on the screen as context in the interview
Oprah Winfrey conducted a tell-all interview concerning the royal family. Courtesy of Reuters
and they’re wildly sexist and racist. Owens later said that she felt unsafe because of her opinion on the interview. This is incredibly ironic, as the media’s extremely hurtful and concerning headlines towards Markle have altered her safety. How can Morgan and Owens call something a blatant lie when they were not there to see it? And at what point will people stop denying women’s stories and start noticing a pattern of compiled experience?
The palace has a ton of improvement ahead. There needs to be change, open discussion and critique of heavily outdated practices. We must pay more attention to the way women, especially women of color, are portrayed in the media. Question the rhetoric used, the narratives perpetuated and the effects it has on not only that criticized individual, but also the contribution to stereotypical portrayals.
A Year in a Pandemic and the Lessons Learned in person, without electronics to distract me, until now. I used to get caught up in social media and whatever notification popped up on my phone. As we pass the one year Now I realize how insignificant anniversary of the world shutting these things are. A year into the down, I’ve thought a lot about everything that has changed since lockdown, I think it’s easier to see that we should all appreciate March 2020. Of course, we’ve and just live life without worrying learned what it means to social about who’s texting us or what distance, we’ve normalized wearing masks and now we are waiting someone posted. Something else that I’ve for our turn to get vaccinated. started to do is reach out to people But what greater lessons have we and make sure they’re okay. The learned in this pandemic? pandemic has had an immense Usually, reflecting on the impact on our mental health and pandemic initially brings up negwell-being, so checking up on ative thoughts, and they are all those we love is essential. I always warranted. We’ve missed graduaappreciate a text or call from tions, sports games, concerts and someone who I haven’t talked to in so much more. But, I’m a glass a while. A year ago, I would have half full kind of guy, so I want to been caught off guard by someone talk about some of the positive lessons we can take away from this asking how I am, but now, it is the highlight of my day. It reminds me pandemic. that we’re all in this together and One thing I’ve learned is that it’s difficult to live in an online that things will get better. So, keep checking up on your friends, even world. Of course, being part of the digital age, you’d think Millen- if you think they don’t need it. We nials and Gen Z-er’s would love to all do. The biggest lesson we can spend more time on our phones, all learn from the pandemic is to watching Netflix or FaceTiming simply appreciate what we have. our friends. However, after hours of Zooms and screen time soaring This past year has taken so much away from us. We’ve witnessed all through the roof, I started to tire that is wrong with the world, amid from staring at screens. The lack widespread racial injustice and a of face-to-face interaction has polarizing presidential election. been especially hard. Being stuck It has certainly been a lot, but we at home for months taught me something crucial: I never grasped should value that we’re still living on this earth. the value of being with people, Joe Adams Staff Writer
Many people have struggled with mental health during this pandemic. Courtesy of Shutterstock
It’s hard to be grateful simply for living, since we are living in a time of chaos, uncertainty and stress. I’ve found that reminders like ‘appreciate the small things’ and ‘you only have one chance at life,’ help ground me. It’s easy to constantly think about all that we’ve lost or worry about when the world will be 100% normal. But, trying not to stress out about the future is the key to staying positive. Just remember that this pandemic will end, and for now, we should try our best to think of what we are lucky enough to have
in our lives. Hopefully, these lessons can help to instill a sense of hope for the future for anyone reading –– whether you’re a student, a historian or maybe even my future kids. Know that this past year was really tough, but we’ve done the best we can and learned a lot about ourselves in the process. For anyone frustrated that COVID-19 is still relevant a year later, I’m with you. Remember to celebrate the small victories in life, and remind yourself that you matter. We’ll get through this, one way or another.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
EDITORIAL BOARD
LETTERS TO THE EDITORS
The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. LetEditor-in-Chief ters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not exAssociate Editor-in-Chief ceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonyous letters will be published. All submissions become Opinion Editor property of The Villanovan and are subject to Opinion Editor editing for clarity and space.
CATE McCUSKER Editor-in-Chief JACK ROBERGE MADISON BURKE TINA ARON VIVI MELKONIAN
The Villanovan | 7
OPINION
POLICY
The unsigned editorial that appears is the opinion of The Villanovan as determined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their auhtors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Villanovan.
A $15 Minimum Wage Should Not See the Light of Day Brendan Donoghue Staff Writer On Thursday, Feb. 26, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that an increase of the federal minimum wage to $15/hr could not be included in the $1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief bill that passed in the Senate on Saturday, March 7. According to axios.com, since the relief bill was taken up through budget reconciliation (a process that allows the Senate to pass a bill with a simple 51 vote majority, rather than the 60 vote majority required to overcome a filibuster), the Senate Parliamentarian decided that the minimum wage provision was not “merely incidental” to the government’s finances, therefore making it ineligible to be included in the COVID-19 relief bill. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), introduced an amendment to the relief bill which would increase the minimum wage bill, but that route appears dead-on-arrival, as it now requires 60 votes. In sum, the Democratic priority of increasing the minimum wage to $15 appears to be stymied, for now. Campaigns to increase the minimum wage have accelerated in recent years, with major figures in the Democratic party joining the
fight, including President Biden pledging to support a standalone bill increasing the minimum wage to $15. With the compelling emotional pleas for a “living wage,” supporting a minimum wage hike may seem like the obvious (or, to use the modern gold standard for any political decision, “empathetic”) position to take. Nevertheless, such a proposal fails on multiple fronts. Instituting a federally-mandated minimum wage of $15 applies to all states equally, with businesses in the city of Boston forced to pay the same base salary to hourly workers as those in rural Mississippi. While the fact that living standards vary between Massachusetts and Mississippi is no surprise, it is nonetheless conveniently overlooked by advocates of an increased minimum wage. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for workers from all occupations in Massachusetts in 2019 was $24.14/ hr. That same year, the median hourly wage for workers from all occupations in Mississippi was $15/ hr. According to the US Census Bureau, Mississippi had the highest poverty rate of all states in 2018, at a whopping 19.7%. The solution to poverty, according to advocates of a $15/hr minimum wage, would be for the federal government to man-
date that businesses in the poorest states in the union pay workers their market-based median hourly wage as a minimum hourly wage. Far from creating a “living wage,” this is a recipe for pricing the poorest workers –– those who are the intended beneficiaries of a minimum wage increase–– out of the workforce. These negative effects are not limited to just the poorest states. According to a projection from the Congressional Budget Office, the proposed minimum wage increase would lift 900,000 people out of poverty and reduce employment in the United States as a whole by 1.4 million workers. It is no doubt that the lives of those who see their wages increase will improve, but if those benefits come at the cost of 1.4 million workers seeing their wages decrease to $0/hr, then perhaps the real-world consequences of such a proposal should take precedence over its proponents’ intentions Not even the most ardent advocates of a $15 minimum wage can escape these real-world consequences. Back during the 2020 Democratic Presidential primary, Senator Sanders, the most outspoken advocate for a $15 federal minimum wage, was drawn into a wage negotiation with some of his campaign staff. According to Newsweek, “Field organizers
[for the Sanders campaign] say they make a salary of $36,000 annually but work 60 hours per week, which is an average of $13 per hour.” Sanders received criticism from his political allies and opponents alike for failing to pay his own staffers the $15 hourly wage that he made such a pillar of his campaign. In response, the Sanders campaign decided to reduce the hours that their field organizers work each week so that their hourly wage rose to $15/hr, rather than increase their pay for the same number of hours worked. As it turns out, economic realities do not particularly care about your political priors. They apply to both the utopian visionaries and realists alike, as Sanders learned the hard way. In the end, no one is sanguine about the idea of a single mother of three working two or more jobs that pay $7.25/hr. I have no doubt that those who argue for an increase to the federal minimum wage are motivated by genuine intentions to improve the lives of those working minimum wage jobs. But when the real-world consequences of these intentions result in a single mother of three making $0/hr because the increased cost of her labor has priced her out of the workforce, the intentions of the proposal ought to take a back seat to its actual effects.
Letter From the Editors: Addressing Sexual Assault The past few weeks on campus have been tumultuous and exhausting. The recent sexual assault cases on campus have raised concerns about our safety and have added another layer of anxiety to an already taxing time. This, in conjunction with the University’s lack of adequate communication about the attacks, has cultivated a strain on the student body that needs to be addressed. The board of The Villanovan stands with survivors. We are allies and supporters. These occurrences are incredibly disheartening and have sparked a greater conversation about safety and support on campus. It is important that we curate an honest environment that prioritizes the security of every individual on our campus. We call on our community to promote safety and protect our fellow students. This is only attainable if we are all committed to making a safe campus. It is additionally important that we do not shy away from tough conversations about sexual assault, as we need to educate one and other in order to be adequate allies. Rape is a frightening topic, but it is a severe, lifechanging occurrence and warrants a greater conversation. This violence is something
that no person should ever have to endure, and in the hope of minimizing the likelihood of sexual assaults on campus as much as possible, it is essential that we have these conversations. We also call on the University to hold these individuals accountable and foster transparency regarding the state of our safety on campus. We ask for honest, open communication to the student body and assurance in the commitment to our security. Thus far, the communication has only brought about more tension in these trying times. We are in favor of change on the part of the University in order to further ensure safety of the student body. The current state is insufficient and needs alteration, as these past few weeks have proven. The current language and procedure surrounding sexual misconduct on campus is dissatisfactory, ignorant and concerningly untimely. Communication should come from the administration in a timely manner so students are aware of threats to their safety as soon as possible. Furthermore, the terminology used to describe rape should be professional and accurate to the severity of the situation. We are calling on the University to provide on-going educa-
There have been a number of reported sexual assaults on Villanova’s campus. Courtesy of Sarah Jones
tion about sexual violence that goes beyond one course. This dialogue should be continuous and frequent as a preventative measure, rather than a reactionary effort. The first half of this semester has proven to be exceedingly stressful. It is important that we not only seek to ensure our wellbeing in regard to the pandemic, but also in regard to protecting the physical
safety of all students. We are capable of getting through this, but only with the dedication of every single member of this community. As a community, we need to do our part to continue advocating for the rights and respect of victims, as well as committing to look out for each other and curate an environment on campus that is intolerant and condemning of sexual
8 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
OPINION
Tone-deaf Politicians Create Unforeseen Issues in Texas Derek Ramirez Jerez Staff Writer On March 3, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted his decision to completely open businesses in Texas and end the mask mandate, despite Texas’ consistently concerning COVID-19 numbers over the past year. This was met with a lot of controversy, as his reasoning for this is feignedly attributed to the increase in vaccinations given. Many privately owned businesses in Texas expressed opposition to this new mandate, still requiring customers to wear masks within their stores. Large corporations, such as Target, Starbucks and Best Buy, might not feel the impact of this, as the higher-ups can ignore customer resistance, leaving it to the individual workers to deal with these consequences. But small, family owned businesses do not have the same luxury and have become an afterthought for most decisions. Five days later, a Mexican Restaurant in Houston came under fire for opposing the Governor’s decision. The business received various
attacks, with the most striking involving one racist individual who threatened to call ICE on the employees in order to check for their green cards, per CNN. Requiring someone to wear a mask should not warrant racist attacks. This is an obvious flaw of the Governor’s actions that is easily avoidable. The reality of Abbott’s decision ineptly tries to counter the newly Democrat ruled government, exercising his state power against it. His Twitter conveys strong opposition against the Biden administration, and it comes as no surprise that a Republican ruled state would do this. A decision with this scant reasoning shows how tone-deaf politicians are today. They disregard blatant issues, like this mandate, for the sole reason of opposing the other party. The real problems lie in what happened to the owners and employees of this restaurant. Receiving racially charged threats because they chose to exercise their rights of being a privately owned business is ridiculous, and the Governor’s decision is completely to blame. It gives a plat-
form to people who believe wearing a mask is a personal insult, causing them to lash out against those who do not agree with their beliefs. But, none of this came to mind in the rash decision Abbott approved. Politicians need to fully grasp the power that they hold. Their decisions directly impact the lives of many people, but often the focus is set only on one side of the political spectrum, while disregarding others. Abbott made his decision to appease his Republican supporters but ignored its practicality, creating inadvertent conflict between those who support and oppose the new decision. His legislation should be about resolving issues, not causing more in an already damaged state due to COVID-19. Politicians need to be aware of the various impacts drastic legislation like this can have on their constituency. It is impossible to satisfy everyone, but too often, politicians are detached from reality to know the full power their decisions can hold, causing more overlooked outcomes. Governor Abbott did not foresee a restaurant in Houston receiving rac-
ist threats, but he needed to do more to reach out and learn the effects his mandate has on privately owned businesses. Selfishly making this decision to both appease Republicans and oppose Democrats should not be the duty of a governor for a state as large and diverse as Texas, or in any state for that matter. Actually doing what is best for as many people as possible should be the main focus for politicians. In this partisan age, however, the main focus has become consistently trying and one-up the other political party. This country is and has always been plagued by tone-deaf politicians. Many past decisions, mostly based on race and Civil Rights, were made to appease the majority white demographic while going against human rights for people of color. To a much lesser degree, the same is seen here, where racist tensions from the border between Mexico and Texas manifest themselves into the interactions between Mexican restaurant owners and white Texans, all because of a governor’s ill-advised decision.
Opinion: Biden’s Foreign Policy is More of the Same Stephen Prager Staff Writer One of the most persistent specters to haunt President Joe Biden as he made his case on the 2020 campaign trail was his long history of hawkish military interventionism. During the Democratic primary, leftwing critics of Biden and his opponent Senator Bernie Sanders rightly called into question his long, ugly record of supporting America’s endless imperial wars. This ranged from his worst sins –– helping former President George Bush increase bipartisan support for his invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee–– to his less-remembered roles in former President Barack Obama’s expansion of the drone war and entrance into conflicts in Libya, Syria and Yemen. Public opinion has long-since turned against the garrison state Biden has helped to construct since 9/11. One 2020 poll from YouGov showed that three-fourths of Americans support the removal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Another from Axios shows that only 27% believe US military interventions make the country safer. To those like myself, who found Biden’s foreign policy record to be a major black mark, his promises on the campaign trail of ending our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, retracting US arms support in Yemen’s horrific civil war and re-entering Obama’s nuclear agreement with Iran were major factors in the decision to vote for him despite his shortcomings. Now that we’re nearly two months into Biden’s administration, it’s clear that his overtures toward a rollback of US military involvement were merely a cynical and perfunctory recognition of the political tides. In reality, nothing about Biden’s worldview has fundamentally changed. The sinking feeling that this was the case began before Jan. 20,
with the rollout of Biden’s cabinet and intelligence community staff, which was packed with some of the national security establishment’s worst ideological supplicants and crass profiteers. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for instance, was hinged to Biden during the deadliest mistakes of his career. In the lead-up to the Iraq War, Blinken was instrumental in stacking Senate Foreign Relations Committee meetings led by Biden. These were filled with testimonies from witnesses including pushing the party line on Saddam’s aid to Al-Qaeda and possession of weapons of mass destruction while ignoring dozens of scholars and foreign service officers who raised doubts. After leaving government service, Blinken went on to found the secretive consulting firm WestExec. Its client list remains undisclosed, but, as The American Prospect’s Jonathan Guyer learned from conversations with members of the firm, the list included “An Israeli surveillance startup,” “a major U.S. defense company,” “Google billionaire Eric Schmidt” and other Fortune 500 companies. Other key Biden officials are cut from a similar cloth, representing both ends of the military-industrial complex. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines was an architect of Obama’s drone war expansion and, according to Newsweek, was often called late at night to determine whether the US should carry out extrajudicial drone assassinations. As deputy CIA Director, Haines also allowed CIA officers off the hook who hacked into Senate Intelligence Committee computers to tamper with a report on the CIA’s use of torture. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a retired four-star general, made his bones as a board member for Raytheon, which has supplied armaments to the Saudi government in its ongoing war in Yemen. Upon stepping down from the board to accept Biden’s nomination, Austin
President Biden spoke at the White House on Friday. Courtesy of Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post
received a $1.7 million payout from his ownership of Raytheon stock. Likewise, Biden’s foreign policy actions since taking office have all but solidified that, for all his talk, he is less interested in remaking American foreign policy than putting a fresh coat of paint on the status quo. For instance, two weeks ago, Biden continued former President Donald Trump’s dangerous tit-for-tat provocations with Iran when, without Congressional approval, he launched an illegal airstrike against a base in Syria –– a country the US is not at war with –– because it was suspected of harboring militias backed by Iran, which is another country the US is not at war with. This action is one of many that have been gravely irresponsible on Biden’s part with respect to Iran, with whom he claims to want to detente through a re-entry of Obama’s nuclear agreement. Trump
violated the agreement by reinstating sanctions on Iran, which led Iran to begin violating its own promise not to enrich uranium beyond agreed-upon levels. According to the international watchdog responsible for monitoring this, Iran was meeting these terms before Trump pulled out. Biden still claims to desire re-entry into the deal, but with the added caveat that Iran must first “return to strict compliance” with the terms of the agreement before the US comes back to the bargaining table. I am willing to hold out hope that President Biden can right this ship. However, he has surrounded himself with advisors whose primary instinct will almost certainly be to continue the grinding status quo while his own actions demonstrate a worrying tendency to provoke rather than to de-escalate and to allow our allies to act with impunity.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
SPORTS
SPORTS
Football Upset By Rhode Island Anders Pryor Staff Writer The Villanova Wildcats fell to the Rhode Island Rams in a crushing 40-37 overtime loss. Daniel Smith’s performance was not far different from the one he had last week in the win against Stony Brook, completing 12-of-27 passes for 116 yards and running for 110 yards, one rushing touchdown and one interception. Rhode Island’s quarterback situation was similar, opting for junior Kasim Hill instead of transfer Brandon Robinson. Hill finished 18 for 28 with 246 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown and one interception. The overtime section of the game was as brutal to watch as it was exciting. With the score tied 34, Villanova senior kicker Cole Bunce nailed a game-long 45 yard field goal straight down the middle to go 3 for 3 in the afternoon. Down by three, the Rams went up the field and capped off with a throw from Hill straight into the hands of Ivory Frimpong for a 23 yard gain and a first down. After a failed running attempt by Brown for no gain, the Rams put it in the hands of Hill for an isolation run off the left side for a touchdown to seal the game, 40-37. This game was overwhelmingly decided by the running
Junior Jalen Jackson had 60 rushing yards and a rushing TD against Rhode Island. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
attack. Nine total rushing touchdowns were tallied up between the two rosters, five for Rhode Island and four for Villanova. Four of the five for the Rams came from junior Kevin Brown, who averaged a monster 7.1 yards per carry, gained 141 yards and scored a 61-yard rushing touchdown in the first half. Villanova senior Justin Covington had two touchdowns, including one for 76 yards, and 141 yards, with 11.8 yards per carry. Villanova was able to utilize the tandem backfield and the split backfield - multiple running backs are set up behind the line of scrimmage - to offset the Rhode Island secondary. The team would motion over one of the backs to move across the back field to manipulate
any sort of high-one coverage. This would give the wide receiver inside leverage, causing the safety to make a choice between blocking off one of the receivers or staying with the back. If the corners were playing zone and had to drop back, that would give the second running back room to move off the wheel route or on the shallow slant to gain yardage. In addition, since the backs were on either side of the field, they were able to manipulate the line of scrimmage so the linebackers couldn’t decide which back to strike until the very last second, allowing for more time for gaps to generate. The Wildcats’ next game is at home against New Hampshire on March 27.
Difficult Week for Women’s Soccer Claire Chmiel Staff Writer Villanova lost a pair of league matches last week, falling 2-0 to Georgetown and 4-0 to Providence. Last Thursday, the Wildcats had an impressive first half defensively, with junior goalkeeper Megan McClay making four critical saves and keeping the Hoyas scoreless. Freshman Emma Weaver was able to get one shot on goal in the first half but failed to find the back of the net. However, the second half did not prove to be as successful for the Wildcats. Georgetown’s Gia Vicari took the ball along the end line and found Daisy Cleverley in the middle for a goal in the 58th minute of the game, getting the Hoyas on the
board that afternoon. Georgetown netted its second goal in the 81st minute, with Jenna Menta taking the ball up the midfield and finding Vicari, who scored off a one-on-one against Villanova’s McClay. Despite two strong shots on goal in the second half by Sam Rosette and Bri Austin, the Wildcats were unable to find the back of the net. On Sunday, March 14, the Wildcats traveled to Big East rival Providence. The Friars, who are 3-1 in Big East play, defeated the Wildcats, 4-0. Providence took the lead early on and maintained a strong offense throughout the game. The Friars’ first goal began with a corner kick in the twentieth minute. They moved the ball inside the 18 yard box where Hannah McNulty found the right side of the net. Not too long after, the
Graduate transfer Sam Rozelle had a shot on goal against Georgetown. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Friars second goal came at 33:53, with Samatha Adams getting a feed from Grace Murphy in the 18 yard box. The Wildcats did earn a free kick 24 yards from the goal, but Weaver’s shot went wide. McClay made a strong save to deny the Friars their third goal of the afternoon, and the Wildcats went into the half two goals down. In the second half, freshman Maria Thomas hopped in goal for the Wildcats. The Friars scored their third goal of the afternoon at 69:53. Elayna Grillakis received a feed from Anna Kalooski and was able to get a shot past Thomas. With Villanova pressuring forward late in the second period, the Friars notched their fourth goal in the 82nd minute by Meg Hughes, extending their lead to 4-0. Thomas made four saves in the half, keeping the scoreline as close as possible. The Wildcats took six shots on the day to Providence’s 21, putting two on target, while the Friars had 11 shots on frame. Both teams took 5 corner kicks. The Wildcats, who are now 1-6-1 and 0-4 in Big East play, will look ahead to prepare for another week of Big East competition. The Wildcats host Seton Hall on Thursday March 18th at 1 p.m. at the Higgins Soccer Complex. Seton Hall enters the game as the only team in the conference with a worse record than the Wildcats, as the Pirates have lost all four of their league contests.
The Villanovan | 9
WEEKLY SCOREBOARD
Mar. 10 - Mar. 16 Wednesday March 10 Women’s Lacrosse vs La Salle 11-10 W Softball @ St Josephs 5-0 W Women’s Volleyball @ St John’s 3-1 W Men’s Soccer @ Seton Hall 0-1 L Thursday March 11 Men’s Basketball vs Georgetown 71-72 L Women’s Soccer vs Georgetown 0-2 L Softball @ George Washington (G1) 1-0 W Softball @ George Washington (G2) 2-6 L Friday March 12 Track NCAA Championships Sean Dolan: 6th, 3:58 (Mile) McKenna Keegan: 7th, 2:04 (800) Sanaa Barnes: 10th, 1.76m (High Jump) Saturday March 13 Softball vs Hofstra (G1) 6-0 W Field Hockey vs Quinnipiac 3-2 W Football vs Rhode Island 37-40 L (OT) Swim @ Loyola (MD) Men: 99-189 L Women: 183-112 W Baseball vs Delaware 6-5 W Softball vs Hofstra (G2) 9-8 W Women’s Lacrosse @ Hofstra 9-12 L Women’s Water Polo vs Salem 8-14 L Sunday March 14 Softball vs Hofstra 8-6 W Field Hockey vs Quinnipiac 5-0 W Women’s Soccer @ Providence 0-4 L Baseball @ Delaware 11-10 W Men’s Tennis vs La Salle 6-1 W Women’s Water Polo vs Gannon 12-10 W Men’s Lacrosse vs St John’s 20-8 W Women’s Water Polo vs Mount St Mary’s 16-4 W Monday March 15 Women’s Cross Country NCAA Championships Lydia Olivere - 91st Men’s Cross Country NCAA Championships 20th out of 31
10 | The Villanovan
NCAA BASKETBALL BRACKET
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
NCAA BASKETBALL BRACKET
The Villanovan | 11
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
SPORTS
12 | The Villanovan
West Region: ‘Zags Continue Quest for Perfection Colin Beazley Co-Sports Editor The West region is headlined by the tournament’s top overall seed Gonzaga, who bulldozed a challenging non-conference schedule and the West Coast Conference en route to a 26-0 record. The Bulldogs’ non-conference slate included matchups with Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia. Gonzaga is led by projected top-5 pick Jalen Suggs, who averages 14.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals per game. Yet, the freshman point guard from St. Paul, MN didn’t win West Coast Conference Player of the Year; that honor goes to his teammate, senior forward Corey Kispert, who averaged 19.2 points per game while shooting an outstanding 44.4% from three-point range. No team has finished a season undefeated since Indiana in 1976, but Gonzaga has an excellent shot.
Although Gonzaga is undoubtedly the favorite to emerge from the West Region, the rest of the field is strong as well. Two seed Iowa came out of the best conference in the nation this season, the Big Ten, with a 21-8 record, good for fifth in the nation in the final AP Poll of the season. Wooden Award frontrunner Luka Garza is the star man, as the 6’11” senior averages 23.8 points per game with the skills of an old-fashioned big man while simultaneously shooting 43% from beyond the arc. However, Iowa hasn’t reached the Sweet 16 since 1999, and the team has injury worries after key rotation piece Jack Nunge was lost for the season. The Hawkeyes will go as far as Garza can take them. If Kansas is able to recover from their current COVID-19 issues, the Jayhawks will be the three seed in the West Region, and they enter the tournament having lost once since Feb. 8. However, Kansas was forced to withdraw from the
Guard Marcus Zegarowski will lead Creighton in March. Courtesy of Creighton Athletics
Big 12 Tournament after two players, including leading scorer David McCormack, tested positive for the virus before their semifinal date with Texas. Both players will travel to the Indianapolis bubble after the rest of the team as they complete their quarantine. Kansas enters the tournament with several question marks, but a team coached by Bill Self is always dangerous in March. Rounding out the top four seeds is another team with COVID-19 complications, as Virginia was forced to withdraw from the ACC Tournament. If the Cavaliers can recover, they are another strong team in the region, led by one of the smartest point guards in the nation, junior Kihei Clark. Marquette transfer Sam Hauser is the leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game and shooting 44% from three, while senior center Jay Huff averages 13.1 points and seven rebounds. To advance, the Golden Eagles must first be healthy enough to play, then they must find a good enough rhythm to beat a strong Ohio squad who took one-seed Illinois to the brink in November. The Big East has a representative in this region, as the Creighton Bluejays earned the five seed via a second-place regular-season finish in the conference, as well as reaching the championship game in the conference tournament. Greg McDermott’s men are led by point guard Marcus Zegarowski, who gave Villanova trouble during their first meeting with 25 points in a blowout Bluejay victory. Senior forward Mitch Ballock can shoot the lights out from three, and the
rest of the Creighton squad has made 57% of its assisted field goal attempts, one of the best in the country, per Synergy Sports data. However, the Bluejays must first go through a red hot UC Santa Barbara team, who have won 18 of their 19 games in 2021. Another team looking to make waves in March is six seed USC, as the Trojans finished in second in the Pac-12 Conference behind the dynamic duo of the Mobley brothers. Older brother Isaiah Mobley is a 6’10” power forward averaging nine points and seven rebounds per game. However, his younger brother Evan is the headlining sibling, as the freshman seven-footer averages 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds and is projected by ESPN to be the second pick in the upcoming draft. USC faces a difficult test against either Drake or Wichita St in the second round, but the talent of the Mobley brothers means that the Trojans could go deep in the tourney. Apart from Gonzaga seeming a near-lock to make it to at least the second weekend, nothing else is guaranteed in a West Region loaded with good teams, but plagued by question marks. With COVID-19 concerns for Virginia and Kansas, doubt over Creighton’s spirits as controversy swirls over head coach Greg McDermott’s racially insensitive locker room remarks, and worries about the rest of the team beyond star big men for USC and Iowa, the West could prove to be full of upsets and probably all of March Madness. Buckle up everyone, the West will be as wild as ever.
East Region: Potential for Chaos Meghann Morhardt Staff Writer The East Region is full of many questions and potential for upsets. With two play-in games set to determine the 11 and 16 seeds, a strong top four and many strong lower seeds, this region is as balanced as it gets. At fourth overall and top ranked in the region, the Michigan Wolverines are still wondering if they will have star player senior Isaiah Livers, who re-aggravated a stress-fracture that he has been dealing with since January. Livers averages 13.1 PPG, and his 43% shooting from beyond the three point line makes him a tough assignment for other post players to defend. The Crimson Tide of Alabama has played well all season, winning the SEC regular season title and the tournament title last weekend with a thrilling one-point victory over LSU. The Tide shot 38% from three and led the SEC in defensive efficiency this season, earning them a record of 16-2 in conference play. Alabama has not lost since Feb. 6, giving them strong momentum entering the tournament. Led by SEC Player of the Year Herbert Jones, Alabama has all of the pieces to make a run in this tournament. Another team to watch, the Texas Longhorns, have been impressive all year, winning 11 of their
first 12 games, sweeping the season series with Kansas and fighting their way to a Big 12 Tournament Title. From the start of this season, the Longhorns and head coach Shaka Smart were challenged and questioned, playing with a chip on their shoulder, but their success in the season proved the critics wrong. Behind a veteran threeguard lineup, the Longhorns rely heavily on their shooting ability to win games. Will shooting slumps hurt Texas and result in an early exit from the tournament, or will the Longhorns keep up the consistency and continue to surprise their critics? Rounding out the top four is the Seminoles of Florida State. Despite falling short in the ACC tournament, this team has the foundation to make it deep into the tournament. FSU has benefited from balanced scoring and strong defense all year. It has two starters averaging double-digits, as well as three bench players averaging more than nine points per game. The Seminoles led the ACC in defensive efficiency and three point shooting percentage at 40.3%. The East region is also full of promising middle-ranked teams. Programs such as UConn, Georgetown and BYU could pose issues for the region’s top four. Georgetown is coming off of an impressive and unexpected Big East tournament championship.
It was an eight seed with wins over No. 1 Villanova and No. 5 Seton Hall in the quarterfinals and semis, finishing with a 25-point victory over No. 2 Creighton in the championship game. This is Georgetown’s first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2015 and the first under head coach Patrick Ewing. The Hoyas are the 12 seed in this region and will face No. 5 Colorado on Saturday in the always highly anticipated 5-12 matchup. This game is always looked to for a possible upset, and this year is no different. Both the Hoyas and the Buffaloes of Colorado are at a peak in performance, and with Georgetown carrying momentum from the Big East tournament, this will be a game to watch with strong upset potential. Another Big East team, the UConn Huskies, earned an at-large bid and a 7 seed in the East region. The Huskies, in their first season back in the Big East, finished third in the regular season and lost a nail-bitter to No. 2 Creighton in the semifinals of the conference tournament. UConn has the athleticism and star power to advance in the tournament, but the team must stay healthy to do so. Star-player James Bouknight, averaging 19.4 ppg, has faced injury struggles all year, missing multiple games with an elbow injury, followed by another scare in the semifinals of the conference tournament. If Bouknight
and the rest of UConn’s team can stay healthy, the Huskies are tough to beat. The No. 6 seed BYU is peaking at the right time, winning five of its last six games, the one loss coming at the hands of top-ranked, undefeated Gonzaga. The Cougars faced Gonzaga in the WCC Conference Finals and led by 12 at the half, Gonzaga’s first double-digit halftime deficit of the season. Led by Purdue transfer Matt Haarms, the Cougars will not be an easy win for anyone they face in the tournament. Lastly, the play-in game for the No. 11 seed could shake things up for the East region. The matchup between Michigan State and UCLA will be one to watch. With the Spartans of Michigan State on a roll, beating Illinois, Ohio State and Michigan in the last three weeks, it is looking to make a run. However, UCLA has been facing a slump in the last month of the season but has hopes to defeat the Spartans and start fresh from there. Tom Izzo’s Michigan State team has all of the pieces to go deep into the tournament, but it must get through the Bruins first. This region will arguably be full of the most exciting and unexpected matchups, given the balance of talent and the evenly matched top four seeds. The Final Four slot for the East is up for grabs, and there are plenty of hungry and able teams waiting to claim it.
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South Region: Villanova Faces Tough Draw Billy Vinci Co-Sports Editor Continued from p. 1 out of conference this season. They also are 11th in the country in adjusted tempo per Kenpom. com, meaning they play very fast. That clashes strongly with the Wildcats slow tempo, which is 320th in the country. If Villanova can make Winthrop play slow, it could give them an advantage, since the Eagles will likely be uncomfortable playing that way. When it comes to the Wildcats, they look much different than they did when they had Gillespie. That is also skewed, however, because in the first game without Gillespie, sophomore Justin Moore suffered an ankle injury in the first half and only played 12 minutes. He was also doubtful to play in the Big East tournament, but played 27 minutes in the game against Georgetown coming off the bench. He is believed to be mostly healthy heading into the tournament. The biggest change for Villanova has been sophomore guard Chris Arcidiacano getting serious minutes after Gillespie’s injury. The brother of Wildcat legend Ryan Arcidiacano, the younger “Arch’s” season high in minutes before the last week of the season was seven in a blowout victory against Hartford. He didn’t appear in the Creighton victory, but after Moore’s ankle injury, he checked in and didn’t check out again, playing 25 minutes, scoring
zero points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing out two assists. With Moore’s status in question against Georgetown, Arcidiacano started and played 34 minutes. The most interesting part about that was Moore was not only able to play, but played 27 minutes, meaning they played together a large amount. In the loss to the Hoyas, Arcidicano had three points, five rebounds and four assists. The question then becomes, with Moore likely to be fully available and start, what does Jay Wright do with Arcidiacono? With Moore likely to slide back in the starting lineup, will he take Arcidiacono’s spot in the starting lineup, or possibly junior Caleb Daniels spot, who only played 11 minutes in the Georgetown loss after picking up two early fouls? For virtually not playing real minutes in college up to this point, Arcidiacono played well. However, the first two games he played major minutes in and was the primary ball handler resulted in losses to a 13-13 Providence team and 13-12 Georgetown team. Daniels has struggled since returning from the COVID-19 pause, in which he contracted the virus, but he is the higher upside play. Arcidiacono won’t turn the ball over, but he has played 59 minutes the past two games against mediocre teams and hasn’t made a field goal. Without Gillespie, the offense has suffered and will be worse no matter who plays. However, when Gillespie left the
Creighton game with the injury the Wildcats were leading a nationally ranked team by 12 points. They ballooned the advantage to over 20 points, before struggling to find a consistent rhythm without Gillespie, but still won by 12 in the end. In that game, Moore and Daniels played 31 minutes, junior Brandon Slater played 23 and sophomore Bryan Antoine played 10, while Arcidicano didn’t play. Minimizing Cole Swider’s minutes could also be helpful. His best skill is shooting, but hasn’t made more than one three in a game since February 7th, against Georgetown. Spreading Gillespie’s 13 minutes from that game among those four players still puts a Villanova team on the floor that can win two games this weekend to get to the Sweet Sixteen. To get to the second weekend, the Wildcats would have to defeat Winthrop and the winner of Purdue and North Texas. North Texas is the 13 seed from Conference USA and went 17-9 on the season. Purdue is the more wellknown team and the team more likely to advance. The Boilermakers went 18-9 on the season in the Big Ten, arguably the best conference in basketball this season. Purdue is a solid team, who has the 23rd ranked adjusted offense and defense, per Kenpom. com. It is led by junior Trevion Williams, who is averaging 15.6 points and nine rebounds per game. Freshman Jaden Ivey is the only other Boilermaker who averages in double figures, with an
average of 10.5 points, while also grabbing 3.4 rebounds per game. Junior Sasha Stefanovic is also a threat, averaging 9.3 points on 40.2% shooting from three. Oddly enough, if the Wildcats meet Purdue in the second round, it would be the second consecutive tournament in which they met in that round. Back in 2019, the third seeded Boilermakers crushed the sixth seeded Wildcats 87-61. This Purdue team doesn’t have the same firepower as the 2019 version, mainly missing Carsen Edwards, but a Villanova team playing well could be in a battle with Purdue for a Sweet Sixteen berth. The two other headliners in the South region are number one seed Baylor and two seed Ohio State. Baylor earned its one seed by going 22-2 in the regular season, not taking its first loss until Feb. 27 at Kansas. The two seeded Buckeyes faltered down the stretch, losing their last four regular season games, but rallied to make the Big Ten tournament championship game, losing to Illinois. The Buckeyes finished the season at 21-9 and possess the fourth best offense in the country, per Kenpom.com. Junior guard Duane Washington Jr. leads Ohio St. in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. It would be of little surprise if Baylor and Ohio St. meet in the Elite Eight to determine who heads to the Final Four, but third seeded Arkansas, Purdue or even Villanova could have something to say about that.
Midwest Region: Battle of Big 10 Heavyweights look for a big performance. The winners of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament will meet the victors from the ACC Tournament in Georgia Tech. The Yel No. 1 Illinois and No 2. low Jackets are riding high on an Houston will headline the Midwest eight-game win streak and will rely Region of this year’s March Madon veteran leadership to extend the ness bracket, which is loaded with team’s stay in Indiana. interesting teams and potential The Volunteers from the matchups. University of Tennessee will face Wooden Award-finalists off with the Oregon State Beavers Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn in a 5-12 first-round matchup. The lead a red-hot Illinois squad into fourth placed SEC team ranked a matchup with Drexel in the first as high as seven in the AP poll at round. Illinois enters the tournaa point in the season, but offenment fresh off an overtime victory sive stagnation derailed games in over Ohio State to win the Big Ten conference play. Rick Barnes’s team tournament, and it boasts the talent plays some of the stingiest defense to make a run deep into the tourin the country and will frustrate any nament. Although UMBC proved team it meets in the tournament. to all the Goliaths that a 16-seeded Oregon State, just barely breaking David has upset potential, Drex.500 in conference play, booked its el is not that team. The Dragons spot in the tournament courtesy of received their first tournament bid three consecutive wins in the PACsince 1996 with a victory in the 12 Tournament. Colonial Athletic Association tour- The Atlantic Sun Champinament, despite a losing record in ons Liberty Flames will challenge conference play. No. 4 Oklahoma State in anoth In one of the more interer first-round matchup. True to esting eight-vs-nine seed matchups its name, Liberty has caught fire in the entire tournament, Loyola recently with its last loss coming in Chicago will battle Georgia Tech January. With junior guard Darius for the opportunity to play what McGhee at the wheel, Liberty will will likely be Illinois in the second look to relive its tournament success round. Coach Porter Moser and the from two years ago when a 12-seedRambler faithful will never forget ed rendition of the Flames upset the Final Four run just three years Mississippi State in the first round. ago, and it will be Cameron KrutAn upset here seems unlikely if star wig, a player on that 2018 team, freshman Cade Cunningham plays to whom Loyola Chicago fans will at the level he established throughNoah Swan Staff Writer
Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma St. will play a big part in the Midwest Region. Courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics
out the season. Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse team will be aiming to upset the San Diego State Aztecs in the 6-11 matchup. The Orange stumbled early in ACC conference play, but the No. 11 seed avoided a play-in game by winning six of their last nine games. San Diego State was one of the teams most aggrieved by the cancellation of last year’s tournament, as the team recorded one of its best seasons on record. Having lost Malachi Flynn to the NBA draft last summer, seniors Matt Mitchell and Jordan Schakel have stepped up this season for the Mountain West Champions. No. 14 Morehead State returns to the bracket for the first time since 2009, hoping to take down a dangerous West Virginia team. The Mountaineers faced some early season controversy with the transfer of Oscar Tshiebwe from the team, but Bob Huggins and his team rebounded to a thirdplace finish in a competitive Big 12.
Morehead State posted a winning record for the first time under Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Preston Spradlin and upset conference mainstay Belmont for a bid to the tournament. The penultimate matchup involves Clemson and Rutgers, two Power 5 teams ranked in the top 15 at some point during the season. Defense is the name of the game for Clemson, but its second-best defense in the ACC was good for only a fifth-place finish in the conference. Ron Harper and Rutgers will look to recall their winning performance over Illinois early in the season to find success in March. Kelvin Sampson and Houston round out the Midwest region, hoping to avoid upset from Horizon champions Cleveland State. Texas-native Quentin Grimes scores more than 18 points per game for Houston, and the Cougars should move past the 19-7 Vikings from the Horizon League with ease.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
CULTURE
14 | The Villanovan
VIBE CHECK WITH THE VILLANOVAN One Year in Review: What Students Miss Most Pre-Covid
“I miss making new friends in my classes and randomly running into people on campus!”
“Villanova basketball games!!” - Sarah Wisniewski, ‘23
- Charlotte Duffy, ‘22
“Being able to hang out with friends causally. Hanging out now requires planning and risk assessment which is sometimes just too much effort. I want to be spontaneous again and continually meet new people without worrying who they have seen or where they have been.”
“I think one of the things I miss most, trivial as it seems, is going to the movies. It was nice to go into another world for a few hours, and the popcorn was awesome. I really miss movie theater popcorn.” - Victoria Margenat, ‘24
“Seeing everyone’s smiles”
- Charlotte Bohra ‘23
- Colleen Cusat, ‘23
CULTURE
The Best Snacks At Campus Convience Stores Maddie Schieder Staff Writer It’s 8:30 p.m. on a weeknight and you need a study session pick-me-up. The nearby convenience store is tempting, and you cannot help yourself, but the options are far too wide. Here is some guidance about which options are worth it or not. There are three convenience stores around campus: Sparket on South Campus, Connelly Convenience on Main Campus and Second Story on West Campus. It can be debatable whether or not they are all the same, and it may be a given that Second Story is superior due to its wider array of options. However, Sparket and Connelly get the job done as well. The top choices can be found in each of the stores. If craving something savory and salty, depending on your health preferences, there are several routes that can be taken. Personally, Hippeas are al-
ways a staple, but only in the Barbeque flavor. These are a healthier option to something like Cheetos, but if those tickle your fancy, there
are multiple flavors of Cheetos sold at the convenience stores. Classic chips are sold as well, such as tortilla chips and potato
Students peruse the aisles of Second Storey located in St. Mary’s Hall.
chips, but I suggest spicing it up a bit and going with Popcorners or something new. If feeling more hungry than usual and wanting something filling, Second Story has hot and ready chicken fingers and other assortments of meal-like foods apart from the large snack selection. On the flip side, this late night craving may be a sweet one. There are four important words for this: Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups. Whether you’re a dark or milk chocolate fan, this brand makes cups with options. It’s no problem if one does not like peanut butter nor chocolate. I suggest going for one of the extremely tempting mini ice cream cups in the freezer or a Pop Tart, especially if you haven’t had one since childhood. If neither of these options suit you, cereal is always a great choice or a nice candy bar, because why not treat yourself ?
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A Follow-Up on Student Responses on Sexual Harassment After SGA Hosted Town Hall Julia Stanisci Co-Culture Editor Continued on p. 3 specifically in response to backlash regarding the language and timing of the notification email. Panel guests included University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D., Title IX Coordinator Ryan Rost, Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Tedjeske, Director of Health Promotion and a Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) Stacy Andes and Student Body President Amanda Rappa. The event took place via Zoom in a webinar format, only allowing the panel guests to speak. The Villanovan asked the community for its thoughts regarding the Town Hall via Instagram after the event took place. The respondents requested to remain anonymous but were all confirmed as University students. One student voiced their concern with many community members’ blame on the administration. “It’s unfair for students to claim that the University doesn’t do anything until after the fact,” the student said. “Students are the ones who don’t listen. Claiming the University does nothing is a slap in the face to every student who works with programming to help survivors and get the word out about resources. It’s
on all of us, not just administration. This was a student who committed these heinous acts, so let’s look to our left and right and hold each other accountable.” Most respondents, however, felt discontent with the Town Hall and the administration’s handling of the recent events. “I was really disappointed in Father Peter’s disposition throughout the Town Hall,” a student said. “To me, he seemed annoyed or irritated most of the time. When he wasn’t speaking, he looked disinterested. When he was speaking, he came across as short and bothered. Part of the reason I went was to hear how Father Peter empathized with victims and with concerned students. And I did not get that.” Another student had a similar experience, and reported dissatisfaction with Father Peter and the event as a whole. “The dismissive nature in which Father Peter answered the questions asked by students during the town hall not only felt insulting to the inquiring students, but also disheartening and borderline hazardous for those who have endured sexual harassment, assault, violence and/or rape, and are (or would plan to) seek support from the so-called “leaders” of our university,” the student said. “Father Peter’s responses did not reflect those of an empathetic leader
and protector or caretaker of his student body, but rather of a man placed high up on a pedestal, ignorant and deflective of the true emotional (and physical) trauma that members of his student body have endured and are currently enduring in the present moment.”
This student also shared hopes for the future, wishing that Father Peter “is able to utilize the feedback that he will most likely receive from anyone attending that Town Hall and learn to practice empathy for his students and faculty on a level that goes beyond the performative.” Another respondent brought to light how recent attention to sexual assault and the social media attention it has received can be triggering to survivors. “As survivors of past sexual assault incidents on campus, a friend and I were very triggered by the increased discussion of sexual assault on social media,” the student said. “I feel as though members of our community are turning the trauma of those girls into a political statement. Sexual assault presumably happens much more often than we know on this campus, but people only choose to care once it makes headlines. Trauma is not political. No amount of policing the University’s word choice in their
report will contribute to ending rape culture on this campus. We do not have an environment where survivors can feel safe to report when they are assaulted.” This message is an imperative reminder to the entire campus community that during such confusing and concerning times, we must keep in mind the survivors and prioritize their safety and well being above all else. To report a sexual assault or an act of sexual misconduct, call Public Safety at 610-5195800, the Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Ryan Rost at 610-519-8805 or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. For more information on support resources, call the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) at 484-343-6028 or review the University’s sexual assault resource website at: www.villanova.edu/sexualassault. For the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800-656-4673. For more information about sexual misconduct, reporting, and sexual assault protocol, contact the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Ms. Ryan Rost at (610) 519-8805, or ryan.rost@ villanova.edu or contact a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. You can also visit the University’s sexual assault resource website at: www.villanova.edu/sexualassault.
Interview with Heads of Gender Equality and Leadership Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor Danielle Ross and Teresa Boyer sat down for a timely discussion about their roles as heads of the University’s Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women’s Leadership. Funded by Anne Welsh McNulty, a 1975 graduate and valedictorian of her class, the Institute embodies her vision for future leaders. Notably, when McNulty graduated, the University was primarily male, as opposed to the primarily female population of today, a dynamic change that shows how much and how little the culture has changed in regard to gender equality. The Institute has four guiding principles: change agency, impact, influence and equity. Focused on making lasting change for the good of gender equity and molding the next generation of leaders, the McNulty Institute prides itself on inclusivity and the power of individualism. Boyer, founding director of the organization, sheds light on the Institute’s main goals and understanding about leadership. “This Institute isn’t for women,” Boyer said. “It’s meant to be better for all because what it does is bring a diversity of experiences and approaches to leadership.” What the Institute emphasizes about leadership is that when people are taught to look beyond just social identities, look beyond what someone is, it gives them the freedom to focus on who someone is. Suddenly, everyone is free to
cultivate his or her leadership in a very authentic way, something the McNulty Institute believes creates the best results. For the future of leadership, the two heads’ hopes are that people, if little else, open their minds. “We’re too limited in how we think about gender and leadership,” Boyer said. “We need to be open to be less limited and more about the outcomes and the leading as a behavior and not a position.” For the people involved in the Institute, it is not just about teaching students how to lead. Rather, it is about working towards creating a shift in the culture of the social world that still endorses inequities in regard to gender. Boyer and Ross also had some things to say about the recent culture on campus, with the sexual assault reports indicating that gender equity and respect is still far from achieved. “The only way we are going to create cultural change is to have a community dialogue about this and to be open about what things happened and how we can stop it.” Boyer said. Her thoughts come after a discussion about the outrage from students after the assaults and how more victims are finding their voices to share their stories. The heads noted that, while women are not the only victims of sexual assault, they are historically the most likely victims. The unevenness of power is the severest way to exert power over another, and this is a symbol of the road ahead of not only for this University, but the entire societal
culture. The Institute is just the thing this University needs right now. Villanova has history and traditions. However, those traditions are all rooted in primarily male leadership which, on a campus that is now primarily women, creates a need for a place like the Anne McNulty Institute. Ross and Boyer are thrilled about the future of the Institute, gushing about initiatives like the student Lorenzi Leadership Ambassador Program, where students work on leadership projects for lasting change throughout the year as they attend panels and group discussions about leadership and equality. The Institute also hosts leadership panels
and is working on a soon-to- launch website for women’s leadership stories. Boyer expressed some final thoughts on the inspiration that comes from working at such a place. “It’s absolutely thrilling just to hear about how everyday people are leading,” she said. In the midst of Women’s History Month and with a spotlight recently shown on the inequities and violence on this campus, the fortification of young leaders with a focus on positive impact is one of the most essential assets the Institute is providing for the University. Hopefully, the inclusive leadership the Institute advocates for so valiantly will become the normalcy of a more equitable world.
The Institute strives for a more inclusive leadership style. Courtesy of Villanova University
16 | The Villanovan
CULTURE
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Student Questions: Herd Immunity on The Horizon? Kendall Hayes Staff Writer A week into the second semester, the University experienced a COVID-19 spike that made every Villanovan question whether or not staying for the entirety of the semester was still a possibility. For a week straight, from the end of January to the first few days in February, daily new cases were in the 60-70 range, forcing the school to acquire another hotel for quarantine and isolation space. Thankfully, the spike eventually peaked at 76 new daily cases and started a downward trend. Now, a month and a half after the spike, a question every student may be asking is whether herd immunity for the Villanova community is on the horizon. The answer is complicated. According to the World Health Organization, herd immunity is defined as “the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection.” It is obvious that the University has had a significant amount of COVID-19 infections, but were those cases enough for Villanova to become a campus protected by herd immunity? There is an ongoing debate as to how long COVID-19 antibodies last after a person has been infected. According to the CDC, it is three months, despite differing
medical opinions from other scientists and doctors across the globe. Some professionals believe antibodies from the virus will protect a person for up to a year, while others believe up to six months. The definite answer is unknown because of all the various factors that impact herd immunity. Mary McGongile, Director of Villanova University Health Center, was asked about the different variables influencing herd immunity. “Herd immunity is the point when enough people are immune to the virus that it can no longer spread through the population,” McGongile said. “There are a lot of unknown variables that contribute to this, such as how quickly we vaccinate people, how long does immunity last and the rise of variants.” Unfortunately, according to the dashboard, the University is not close to herd immunity. Even if it were to be confirmed that antibodies for COVID-19 lasted for a year, Villanova’s campus is not close to the 70% that is required in order to have herd immunity. The Villanovan crunched
some numbers to show the community approximately where we stand within the herd immunity spectrum. According to the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 COVID-19 dashboard, Villanova has had 1,540 positive COVID-19 cases since pre-arrival testing for the first semester. Fifty-nine of these positive tests were from employees who tested positive. This academic school year, there are approximately 6,790 full time students at Villanova University. This means that the University has an immunity of about 22%. Of course, there have been more students that had COVID-19 than the dashboard has displayed. Additionally, students who have underlying conditions, are frontline workers or are related to a healthcare professional have been vaccinated for COVID-19. The school does not have access to the number of students that have been vaccinated, and this number along with the amount of students who have had COVID-19 prior to the dashboard’s creation is not significant enough to push Villanova into herd immunity territory. Jonathan Gust, Director of
Media Relations at Villanova University, discussed vaccinations at the University. Gust confirmed that the University is unaware of the precise number of Villanovans that have been vaccinated at this time. “The University does not know the number of students who have received the vaccine at this point,” Gust said. McGongile was asked whether Villanova was close to reaching herd immunity. She discussed the complexity of the subject. “The short answer is we don’t know for sure,” McGongile said. Students were informed earlier this year that the University would be a vaccination distribution site. Gust discussed how this will help make Villanova’s community even closer to herd immunity. “Villanova has registered with the state to be a vaccine distribution site for the campus community,” Gust said. “At this point, it is too soon to know a timetable for when vaccines will be available for our campus community. The University will communicate that information once it becomes available.” Despite all the talk, the University is nowhere close to herd immunity. All students can do now is patiently wait for the vaccine, continue following the CARITAS commitment, and together we may reach herd immunity in time.
Graph of On-Campus Isolation/Quarantine Capacity for Student By Day. Courtesy of Kendall Hayes
Student Instagram @MLB.Fits Give Game New Life
page. All of Tantum’s captions on his posts are engaging and encourage conversation in the comment sections. “The game is changing.” Aside from posting outfit That’s what Villanova junior and @ highlights on @MLB.Fits, Tantum MLB.Fits creator Alex Tantum said also teams up with other accounts to about Major League Baseball. The host giveaways. The giveaways range ‘change’ he is referring to is the culfrom cards to jerseys, or even signed ture surrounding baseball, particularbaseballs. Creating giveaways partly the players’ self-expression through nered with popular accounts helps style. Tantum get more recognition on @ Tantum, a New Jersey native, MLB.Fits. is an avid sports fan with a growing It’s clear that Tantum has put interest in fashion. For several years, in hard work to make his Instagram he has followed the popular Instaaccount successful. One experience gram account @LeagueFits, which A New York MLB x NBA jersey that Tantum posted for #JerseySunday. in particular had demonstrated to highlights the best dressed players Courtesy of MLB.fits Tantum that his efforts paid off. Tanof the NBA, combining the normaltum recalled that a private account today. Tantum would follow as many relatable. ly distant interests of fashion and followed by many major league stars baseball related Instagram accounts “You can express yourself sports. had been consistently liking his posts. as he could, hoping for a follow back. through what you wear,” Tantum “In basketball, it’s a whole He requested the account and was And after that, it was straight to the said. “[Fashion] can show off your culture,” Tantum said. DMs. Tantum DM’d players, prospersonality and your individual self.” accepted as a follower, just to find out Basketball players have the pects and other baseball accounts Along with posts about outfits that the account belonged to baseball opportunity to express themselves legend CC Sabathia. Tantum DM’d with the hopes that they would give or gear from players, Tantum also through their style before games as Sabathia and conversed with him his page a shout-out on their own likes to feature anything relating to they walk through the tunnel that over Instagram, talking about his pages. This continuous cycle of both fashion and MLB. Recently, leads to the court. With photogracontent and the sport they both love. he posted a photo of professional phers present, it’s almost as if they’re following and DM’ing accounts has “It was such an amazing moment for walking the runway at Fashion Week. helped @MLB.Fits reach the success basketball player Carmelo Anthony me,” Tantum said. “That is someone it’s at today. sporting a Yankees bomber jacket. Tantum noticed that the who I grew up watching.” As far as developing content, Also, Tantum posted about the fall display of professional basketball Baseball is a sport that’s root2020 Kith x MLB collection, which players’ fashion led to a more diverse Tantum has fun with his account. ed in tradition. However, “America’s Following @LeagueFits for so long featured clothing styled with the fanbase and the creation of a whole pastime” as we know it is changhas helped him figure out what logos of both the New York Yankees new culture separate from the sport ing for the better. Tantum wants constitutes a good outfit. He’ll repost and the Los Angeles Dodgers. itself. He wanted that same kind of to promote this change and bring outfits that baseball players have Tantum utilizes hashtag culture to be created for baseball. culture and excitement to the game. posted to their own accounts, or trends for special days on his acThus, @MLB.Fits was born. Through the players’ self-expression he’ll find pictures of uniforms from count. On Sundays, he uses the In October of 2019, Tangames. He seeks out unique shoes, hashtag #JerseySunday to post pho- and fashion, baseball is evolving and tum created his Instagram account accessories and custom gear. Tantos of cool team jerseys. On Fridays, becoming so much more than just to highlight the best fits in Major the sport itself. tum thinks that the players’ fashion Tantum will use the hashtag #FuLeague Baseball. Since then, he has Be sure to follow Tantum’s tureFitFriday. On these days, Tantum worked tirelessly to get the account to attracts a whole new fanbase and account @MLB.Fits on Instagram. will feature a prospect’s outfit on his the more than 22,000 followers it’s at makes the players themselves more Devin Toolen Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
CULTURE
The Villanovan | 17
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend: Villanova Style Skylar Musick Staff Writer St. Patrick’s Day is finally here. To celebrate, the Campus Activities Team (CAT) partnered with multiple organizations on campus to provide a fun-filled weekend for students. The festivities began on Thursday, when an Ice Skating Rink opened for the very first time in the Tolentine Lot. The rink was open for skaters from Thursday at 6 p.m. to Saturday at 11 p.m. After making a reservation, students were given ice skates and could spend the entire night skating and having fun with friends. Around the entire rink, bright green lights were displayed for St. Patrick’s Day. Skaters even got to listen to today’s top hits while on the ice. “I thought that it was a cool idea to set up on campus that most colleges aren’t doing,” freshman Sara Taddeo said. “It was a unique experience, and I had fun hanging out with my friends.” After this, students had the chance to participate in a NovaQuizzo at the Oreo at 9 p.m. Winners received awesome prizes, including Villanova gear from the bookstore. What made this NovaQuizzo even more exciting was that all participants enjoyed free Insomnia Cookies. The fun didn’t stop there, however. On Friday afternoon,
Panhellenic sorority Kappa Delta held its Shamrock Event, where many students came to play corn hole. The event was a way for the Villanova community to support KD’s philanthropy in a safe, fun and socially distant way. Sophomore Julia Stanisci was one of the many students attending the event. “It was so wholesome to see everyone having such a great time for a great cause,” Stanisci said. On Friday night, fire pits were open to students from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Those who reserved fire pits had a great night catching up, relaxing and staying warm with friends. Of course, if it’s Friday, it’s Food Truck Friday on campus. The food trucks were open to all students and were parked around the Quad, the Oreo and the Campus Green from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The night’s menu included delicious pizza, doughnuts, ice cream, French toast bites, crab fries and mac n’ cheese. On Main Campus, there were countless students walking with friends, holding their food truck delicacies. Perhaps the most popular attraction of the weekend was NOVAdance’s Silent Disco Night. This event was open to all students. After signing in, everyone received a set of headphones. Each set had three color-coded stations: red, blue and green. The entire night, everyone listened to each station, dancing and singing
along to their favorite songs. “It was really great seeing so many people having fun together,” freshman Nicholas Venturini said. “It was like we were all at a party.” All of the money raised from this Silent Disco goes towards the B+ Foundation, which supports families and children battling pediatric cancer. Everyone who attended had a blast for an amazing cause. The fun continued into Saturday, when students twenty-one and older got to enjoy the Senior Pub Series at the Oreo from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. After reserving their spots online, seniors had a terrific night with food trucks, fire pits, beers, live entertainment and custom festive beer steins. To finish Saturday night on a high note, students reserved spots for Arcade Night. From 7
p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Driscoll Tennis Courts, gamers could play air hockey, ping pong, foosball, pop-a-shot and black light minigolf. “I’m a sucker for ping pong, so that was definitely my favorite game,” freshman Isabella Ritano said. “My friends and I had so much fun.” Last, but certainly not least, the Villanova Club Rugby Team, the Irish Cultural Society and CAT held a screening of the 2021 Ireland vs. Scotland rugby match at the Oreo on Sunday. At 7 p.m., all students had the chance to meet our Rugby Team and enjoy the beautiful weather. The University is set to have even more fun-filled events on St. Patrick’s Day Wednesday, including an alcohol education trivia game, cookie decorating at the Campus Green fire pits and food trucks.
Villanova’s very own on-campus ice skating rink. Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale
Glasses for the Male Gaze: A Piece on Sexual Assault Bailey Quinn Staff Writer As a woman, one has to think of the world as an obstacle course. We train our whole lives to survive it, studying how to hold our pepper spray, check the backs of our cars for break ins and live in a world that does not like it when we go to bed breathing and not fighting against duct tape around our wrists or kicking out a taillight. In light of the recent sexual assault cases on campus, and the shortcomings of the University’s handling and communication of these horrific acts, it is hard to find a reason not to double check every lock. Especially with the new developments just this week on the Sarah Everard case, which is the story of a girl who did everything right and still ended up a victim of murder, it begs the question: if we do everything right but still risk being a victim, what on earth can we do to stop it from happening to us? She wore bright clothes, called a friend, only walked on brightly lit roads, yet she was murdered by no less than a police officer, a supposed protector and enforcer of the law. If we do everything right, and still these horrific acts happen, and our institutions of education and law fall short in protecting and supporting us, what else can we do? In all the chaos of this discussion, there is one group to whom demands must be made to enact change. Men, the group from which the majority of sex-
ual violence perpetrators come from, may be able to put out the fire within their own home. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey conducted by the CDC and published in 2010 found that 98.1% of female rape victims reported their attackers as male. As for female victims of sexual violence, 92.5% of them identified their attacker as male. While some men may insist “not all men,” there are an awful lot of them damaging the reputation of the male population. Even for the male population, men that have suffered the same horrible acts of sexual violence and rape identified a majority of their attackers as male. So, what can men do in order to help? Call out friends that exhibit harmful behaviors. These behaviors can range from catcalling, groping, taking pictures of people without their permission, actively trapping people in conversations that they clearly do not want to be a part of, following people to their dorms, trying to harass people in their dorms and other behaviors that exhibit an inclination toward intimidation and harassment. More extreme actions would be raping people, assaulting people, bragging about non-consensual sex and non-consensual sexual acts (more accurately known as rape and sexual assault respectively) and roofieing (drugging) their peers. Every one of these actions is harmful, and they display a clear disregard for the boundaries and safety of others. While you may not be the
98.1% of female rape victims reporter their attacker as male. Courtesy of heathline.com
perpetrator of these acts, your friends might be, and every day that you do not speak up is another day in which their behavior goes unchecked. It is not enough to not be the problem. You must be a part of the progress toward a solution. For your female and LGBTQ friends, or anyone who is not a cisgender man, offer to walk them home. Offer to stay on the phone while they walk home if you cannot be there. Believe them when they tell you about their experiences in which they have been made to feel uncomfortable, when they have been forced to shrink in order to survive. Chances are the majority of those people have not only been harassed and assaulted, but also had to assess a situation
and determine whether they had to pull out the pepper spray, scream for help and beg for the chance to not become just another statistic, just another story told to scare girls away from believing in a safe existence and another story for men to skim and disregard the likeness of the attacker to that of a close friend. Not all men are attackers, but all women are afraid. Not all men are the problem, but very few believe that a solution is needed. Not all women are harmed, but all of us are scared, because we recognize, as Olivia Gatwood, author of “Life of the Party,” once wrote on the topic of violence against women and queer people, “It is a privilege to have your body looked for.”
18 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
CULTURE
Top 5 Drink and Muffin Orders at Holy Grounds
Olivia Sabalaskey Staff Writer
Imagine it’s a Friday morning and the first thing you hear is that dreaded alarm clock ringing beside your comfortable bed. The temptation to hit the snooze button is very real, but you don’t want to wake up your roommate. So, instead of pressing the snooze button, you turn off your alarm, sit up, and get ready for the last day of classes for the week. You’re exhausted, you’re stressed for that exam you have to take in a few hours and all you want to do is go back to bed. Never fear, for Holy Grounds is here to save the day. With multiple locations sprawled out across Villanova’s campus, Holy Grounds, Villanova’s legendary coffee shop, has a special cup of coffee or tea waiting for everyone along with a mouthwatering specialty muffin. Villanova students love Holy Grounds because of the friendly faces that greet them every morning to take orders, the smell of warm, roasted coffee beans and the whirring sound of the coffee machines in the background. Holy Grounds is the ideal spot to meet up with friends, finish some homework, participate in a Zoom class or simply grab a bite to eat on the go. “Holy Grounds is such a vital part of Villanova,” a sophomore student said. “We love it so much. Villanova would not be Villanova without it.” According to Villanova students, these are the top five drink orders at Holy Grounds: 5. Dirty Chai At Holy Grounds, the Dirty Chai is a very popular drink among
Villanovans. A dirty chai consists of a shot of rich espresso mixed with spiced, black tea and steamed milk. Spices found in a dirty chai include cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, black pepper and cloves. Hot and iced versions of the Dirty Chai are available. 4. Chai Tea Latte Another fan favorite drink at Holy Grounds is the Chai Tea Latte which can be served hot or over ice. Infused with the warm, comforting spices of chai tea, combined with steamed milk and topped with foam, a chai tea latte balances spicy and sweet flavors perfectly. Added sugars give this popular drink more of a latte flavor. 3. Black Iced Tea with Raspberry Flavoring The Black Iced Tea with Raspberry flavoring is a staple at Villanova. Full of refreshing black tea and infused with a fruity taste, this Holy Grounds drink is sure to help reenergize students for a long day of classes ahead. 2. Cold Brew Undoubtedly, the Cold Brew at Holy Grounds is famous. Many Villanovans enjoy it because it has a higher coffee to water ratio than regular coffee. Vanilla and caramel syrup are popular additions to add to the Cold Brew for added flavor. Served chilled, the Cold Brew at Holy Grounds is simply the perfect go-to drink order. 1. Iced Latte The Iced Latte at Holy Grounds is the most popular drink among Villanova students. With a shot of espresso, a splash of whole milk, and the flavoring of your choice,
Holy Grounds in the Connelly Center is a student hotspot. Courtesy of Olivia Sabalaskey
an iced latte is a wonderful and delicious option to order. Vanilla and caramel are, once again, the most popular flavors to add to the Iced Latte at Holy Grounds. Now, here are Villanovans’ top five muffin orders at Holy Grounds: 5. Double Chocolate Chip Muffin Caffeine is a student’s best friend throughout his or her experience at school, particularly during the four years at college. Along with Villanovans’ caffeinated drinks, they also enjoy a sweet bite to eat, namely the Double Chocolate Chip Muffin at Holy Grounds. This flavor is a wonderful go-to order to jumpstart a long day of classes or treat oneself to as a dessert while studying. 4. Blueberry Muffin The Blueberry Muffin at Holy Grounds is a classic order. Perfectly paired with a sweet, delicious cup of coffee or tea, this is undoubtedly a favorite order among Villanova students. 3. Lemon Iced Muffin At Holy Grounds locations around Campus, Villanova students
also thoroughly enjoy the Lemon Iced Muffin, particularly those with more of a sweet tooth. The Lemon Iced Muffin is well known for its tart, comforting flavors of lemon with a hint of vanilla. 2. Sin-a-muffin Cinnamon rolls have always been a staple breakfast food and guilty pleasure. Holy Grounds has successfully combined the cinnamon roll-flavoring and a standard muffin mix to create the mouthwatering Sin-a-muffin. Rich in cinnamon and icing, this legendary muffin at Holy Grounds is the second most popular muffin on Campus. 1. Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin The Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin is the ideal choice of muffin to order at a Holy Grounds location on Campus. This muffin perfectly combines a fruity taste with rich chocolate chips. Villanovans thrive on Holy Grounds, grateful to know that every day, no matter what, a delicious and comforting breakfast is waiting for them. So, on behalf of all of Villanova, thank you, Holy Grounds.
Stress Relief: Maintaining Mental Health in College Julia Stanisci Co-Culture Editor
College is stressful. With academics, social life and extracurriculars to balance, all while learning to be independent and grow away from home, it’s no surprise that mental illness plagues staggering numbers of college students across the country. According to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment, the number of students who have had a previous diagnosis or treatment for depression has increased from about nine percent in 2009 to over 20 percent in 2019. In the last 12 months, 56% of college students reported feeling hopeless, 45% felt so depressed that it was difficult to function and 66% felt overwhelming anxiety (ACHA). These numbers are also pre-pandemic, so when this is factored in, it is a wonder how any of us are still remotely sane. With midterms on the horizon and no spring break in sight, Villanovans are feeling the stress more than ever. Amid the pandemic, many students are not able to turn to their typical outlets, like going out with friends and socializing, to relieve stress. It is absolutely imperative, now more than ever, to take care of ourselves and
find new ways to maintain mental health. One of the most simple and common ways to relieve stress is by getting one’s body moving. Exercise, like making a gym appointment or, even better, getting some fresh air and going for a walk or jog around campus, is an excellent way to blow off steam, get those endorphins flowing and take a breath. Sophomore Gabby Bevil spoke of the value of a simple walk around campus. “Going for a walk helps clear my head and help me reset for the week,” Bevil said. Yoga, pilates, cycling and more are also fun and different activities to take a break and feel good. Villanova offers certain group classes that one can reserve a spot in. Another idea is coloring, whether it’s in a book or just grabbing some pens and doodling aimlessly. Sophomore Taylor Devito preaches that “adult coloring books are therapeutic and fun.” Take a calming walk down Lancaster to CVS and pick one up, along with some fun colors, and just relax mindlessly with marker, pen or pencil to paper. One of the most underrated stress relief mechanisms is reading for leisure. While she recognizes the uncommonality of
The Counseling Center is always a resource for Villanova students. Courtesy of Villanova.edu
it among her peers, sophomore Caroline MacLaren praises the practice and sees it as an essential break. “When I feel stressed and overwhelmed, I read because it’s a way to make me feel productive without doing schoolwork, and a nice alternative to watching TV,” MacLaren said. Reading, similarly to taking a break with a show or movie, allows for indulging in fantasy as a means to escape reality. Give yourselves these breaks – we all need them. Finally, if feeling the weight of it all, talk to someone. Friends are probably feeling the same
way, and they likely also want to get everything off their chest. The Counseling Center has also added two new counselors this semester and is offering online teletherapy appointments. Even if one isn’t feeling that bad, talking to a stranger and letting everything out is incredibly helpful. No matter how one decides to relieve stress, make sure to do something to take a break and practice self care. Mental health and well-being should come before anything else, no matter how important other commitments may seem in the moment. Always remember that you are never alone, and we’re all in this together.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
CULTURE
The Villanovan | 19
Villa-Vogue: The Leisure-Wear Craze Kaelin Trombly Staff Writer Leisure clothing will always be part of one’s closet. It is safe to say that a classic hoodie and a pair of sweats are now a staple. However, a new component is that those sweatpants and hoodies will escape the comfort of your couch and take on the outside world by storm. 2021 is all about flaunting your joggers and slippers to class, to Philly, to the courts (kidding) or anywhere. Track pants. Wide-legged, relaxed fit sweats are triumphing over joggers this season. From stadium to streetwear, swishy and baggy track pants are the newest loungewear craze. Compliment such looks with sunglasses, hoops and a chain necklace, bare midriffs and your favorite dad sneakers. Slippers. Moccasins are dead. Period. It’s time for the fluffy, bright, borderline obnoxious slippers. Everyone has had a pair shoved to the back of his or her closets, and the few times they’ve been worn, they never left the outskirts of home. What’s new in 2021 is that slippers are now being incorporated into everyday leisure outfits. Major fashion houses such as Balenciaga and Fendi have already started showing support by incorporating logo branded
slippers into their upcoming lookbooks as well. Oversized button-downs. There has been a recent rise of oversized silhouettes everywhere, and the oversized button down trend on the S/S 21 runways was too prominent to ignore. Valentino paired a bold pink top with micro shorts, while The Row layered a billowy white button-down over a tee and slouchy khakis. It’s not necessary to buy a high-end item to achieve this look. Simply purchase any collared shirt a few sizes too large and an outfit can be assembled. Bermuda shorts. Ladies, hear me out. Whether it be gym shorts or jeans, long and loose is in. Baggy, slightly above the knee shorts may be one of the coolest trends, and to those who get on the fad - respect. Knitted anything. Knitted and ribbed materials are making a comeback in 2021, making dressing up leisure outfits so easy. A favorite usage of this trend is the elevated knit sets that have been taking over stores from Urban Outfitters, Zara, Proenza Schouler and everything in between. Workout jumpsuits. Despite the baggy theme that 2021 has brought along, the ballet-inspired look can be found on Aerie, Athleta and more. Whether exercising or not, the workout jumpsuit appears chic and put together. Pair
it with chunky hoops, a clean high pony, a loose zip up and sneakers. Quarantine or not, leisure clothing is making headway in 2021 trends and is destined for
more than lounging around the house. It is time to rock that knit set and slippers as you venture off to the outside world.
This start print leisure wear is the epitome of the popular new trend. Courtesy of AliExpress
Book of The Week: Normal People by Sally Rooney Sneha Beri Staff Writer
not only Marianne and Connell, but the very human fears that come with loving and being loved. I’ve had this draft open for Normal People is full of moments that stop readers in their tracks days, trying to figure out how to and force them to contemplate the do Normal People justice. At just under 240 pages, this is one of the most beautiful and ugliest parts of perceiving and being perceived shorter books I’ve read over the through the lens of love. last few years, but it took me the Normal People is not a longest time to read. It’s not full fairytale, nor is it the bearer of of convoluted language or messy lofty ideals; it is a presentation of plots; it’s beauty lies in its simplictwo flawed, realistic human beings ity. That simplicity, ironically, is who share an unwittingly intense what gives the book more emolove. tional weight than anything I’ve Picking up a copy of read before. I would get through Normal People is one of the best three chapters a day at most, then things you can do for yourself. I’d have to put it down for the Despite its length, it’s best enjoyed next couple of days to sit in what over multiple sittings. Marianne I’d just read. and Connell are easy to get to Normal People follows its know, and you will find yourself main characters, Marianne and getting frustrated with them just Connell, from high school into as you would a friend. The two of college and early adulthood. The them are me, they are you; they chapters show the ebb and flow of their relationship, the constant are all of us. I especially recommend love each person has for the other. Normal People to fans of Taylor Sometimes, the love manifests in Swift’s “’tis the damn season.” an actual physical or romantic Marianne does think that “the relationship, and other times it is road not taken looks real good shown through fleeting stares after now” and it does always lead back weeks of silence, drives back home to Connell in their hometown. from the grocery store, or long emails sent during study abroad. The true brilliance of Normal The actual weight of Mar- People comes from the distinct characterization that still lends ianne and Connell’s love for each itself to relatability. other sometimes grows to be unIf you have the option to bearable for both of them; readers select between covers, pick the often find that neither character is one that illustrates Marianne and willing to admit how deeply they Connell in a sardine tin. It’s nice feel about each other, no matter to gaze at lovingly after you close how often they find themselves in the book because you feel like you a room together. can’t read any more for the day. Sally Rooney has created a simple but stirring portrait of
Normal People by Sally Rooney is worthy of your to-read list. Courtesy of Sneha Beri
VA
NO
LA
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DINING SERVICES
Villanova Dining Services
BOARDWALK DINNER Thursday, march 18
Donahue - Dougherty - St. Mary’s
St. Patrick’s Day Dinner wednesday, March 17
Donahue - Dougherty - St. Mary’s
MENU Ham & Cabbage Roasted New Potatoes Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie Fish & Chips Irish Soda Bread Cupcakes
MENU Pork Roll Breakfast Sandwich Sausage & Pepper Sandwich Fish Cakes Sesame Roasted Sweet Potatoes Gyro Bar Salt Water Taffy Homemade Fudge