The Villanovan | Volume 111, Issue 6: Wednesday, August 26, 2020

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 26, 2020

www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 111 | ISSUE 6

STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916

Villanova Students Return to Campus Amid Global Coronavirus Pandemic

Katie Reed Staff Writer

After an almost six-month hiatus, filled with uncertainty, isolation and DIY-projects at home, Villanovans have finally been able to return to campus. Classes began both in-person and online on Monday, August 17 to mark the start of what has been consistently referred to as an “unprecedented semester” in the University’s history, yet becoming just another footnote in the ever-growing list of unprecedented events of 2020.

First-year students, of which 1,695 are currently enrolled (surpassing the University’s expectations of 1,675, according to University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, O.S.A., Ph.D.), were able to begin this new chapter of their lives with Orientation, which began on Thursday, August 13, after a two-day move-in process.

Returning upperclassmen began moving in on Friday, August 14, seeing friends they haven’t been able to see since all students were required to leave campus in March

Although it may feel like business as usual, students on campus are adjusting to the new regulations put in place by the

University, in accordance with rules set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The University established Community First: The CARITAS Commitment over the summer, as a pledge all returning students, faculty and staff were required to take. This all-encompassing pledge asked Villanovans to modify behaviors to ensure the health and safety of the community.

The shared responsibility — to be considerate of others and to comply with health and safety requirements — is at the heart of the CARITAS Commitment.

Guided by principles to protect fellow peers and promote a safe environment for learning to continue, this semester has been reconstructed to include social distancing, wearing masks at all times, portable chairs and the vigilant disinfecting of high-touch surfaces around campus.

The University has provided all students with the previously mentioned portable chair, hand sanitizer, masks, disinfecting wipes and a thermometer, making it easier for all to abide by these guidelines and monitor their own symptoms on a daily basis.

Students passing between classes during their first week back on campus.

Courtesy of The Villanovan

Additionally, the 4,945 students living on campus, a small decrease from the 5,214 students on campus last year, have seen other changes around campus.

Benches and tables have been marked off to appropriately sit people six feet away from each other, tents have been placed to allow for more outdoor seating, and plexiglass has been utilized in dining spaces.

The number of guests allowed in dorms at one time has become limited based on the number of residents, and only students from the University are allowed to visit other dorms.

Dining halls now also offer limited capacity seating. The food portion of Belle Air Terrace has been relocated to the Villanova Room in the Connelly Center, but the Belle Air itself is still open for student seating. Other places for food, like Freshens, are no longer open for the semester.

Reservations are required in order to work out at the Davis, Farley, Arch and Stanford fitness centers on campus. Additionally, reservations are needed to visit the University Bookstore. In regards to athletics, fall sports will not compete this semester. One consolation is that some select intramu-

ral sports will begin in September.

Even though the vast majority of Villanovans have been adhering to this new way of life, there have been instances of large gatherings of people that go against these regulations. Before the semester started, a gathering of a few hundred freshmen occurred on South Campus, and other large gatherings in dorms and at The Villas of Bryn Mawr have put the University on highalert.

In an email sent on Friday, Aug. 21, University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, O.S.A., Ph.D. addressed this issue and stressed that those who do not follow The CARITAS Commitment will pay serious consequences, such as being sent home early, as some students already have been.

He explained that even though less than 1% of the COVID-19 test results received in early August were positive (.41% to be exact), there is still work to be done in keeping the numbers down in order to keep everyone safe. It is up to students and faculty on campus to comply with The CARITAS Commitment, so that students at the University do not face a similar fate to students at UNC-Chapel Hill or Notre Dame.

2 | The Villanovan

News 1 Opinion 4 Culture 8 Sports 10

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 111 | ISS. 6 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

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

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

NEWS

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

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

Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition June 14 - June 27 Main Campus Grounds A theft of bicycle parts was discovered from a bicycle secured to a bike rack .

The value of the stolen bicycle parts is unknown.

Burglary-Unlawful Entry (No force) / Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition August 9 Alumni Hall A burglary was reported by a resident student where a theft of Apple AirPods were stolen . The value of the stolen property is approximately $250.00.

Liquor Underage / Public Drunkenness August 20 Main Campus Grounds A male resident student, under the age of

21, appeared in public and was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Liquor Underage / Public Drunkenness August 20 Caughlin Hall A male resident student, under the age of 21, appeared in public and was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.

Carrying a False Identification Card / Liquor Underage August 22 St. Monica Hall 2 female resident students, under the age of 21, were evaluated for alcohol intoxication. One of the students was also found in possession of a false identification card.

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 Justice for Black Lives: A Vigil August 28 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Both in-person and virtual Last Day for Adding and/or Dropping Classes August 30 All Day Virtual

“Black Dignity and Augustinian Political Theology” with Vincent Lloyd September 1 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Virtual Employer Resume Review Day Septmeber 2 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Virtual

Student Involvement Day August 31 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Virtual

Student Involvement Day September 2 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Virtual

Student Involvement Day September 1 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Virtual

Student Involvement Day September 3 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Virtual

Student Involvement Days September 4 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Virtual

COVID-19 TRACKER CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES AS OF 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY, AUGUST 25

1

Villanova University

10,152

Delaware County, Pennsylvania

130,035 Pennsylvania

5,715,567

Student Involvement Days September 5 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Virtual Student Involvement Days September 6 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Virtual

United States

24,058,358

Labor Day September 7 No Classes

Worldwide

Community First Student Committee The Community First Committee is a group of Villanova students, administrators and staff who are dedicated to ensuring that Villanovans put Community First and embody the CARITAS Commitment in their daily activities and interactions—both on and off campus. Individually and collectively, the Community First Committee is here to help Villanova stay in person and on-campus.

Student Members: Emma Ahlstrom Michael Allen TD Ayo-durojaiye Lea Barny Lucy Baxter Gia Beaton Lydia Becker Laura Biesterveld Laura Blaston Laura Blaston Lydia Bowman Simon Brooks Mara Burke Josue Casiano-Agosto ChiChi Chioke Katie Connolly Patrick Connors

Emily Cox Ben Crawford Jack Crawford Katelyn Dellinger Lexi DeNucci Madalyn Dowbak Nasir Dowling Addison Drone James Dunbar Maggie Emamzadeh Maria Espinoza Michelle Ferrer Jacob Galgano Mark Anthony Graham John Greene Elizabeth Hasson Stephanie Humen

Jessica Jareczek Michael Joyce Clare Keating Jacob Kelly Ekaterina (Kate) Kozlova Pat LaBella Rachel Lambert Caroline Levine Mariana Marquez Billy McGloin Sarah Metz Arlene Niles Emily Oliver Kyle Patel Liana Perez Rachel Porcaro Yue (Sunshine) Qi

Ariana Ramos Amanda Rappa Sharielle Rodriguez Tanya Sanon Jessica Sardina Tyler Schieda Anna Schmult Cameron Scott Iva Skalko Carrie Sweeney Gabby Tanson Michael Tortorella Trevor Williams Grace Wittenberg Kaltra Zabiku Abdul-rashid Zakaria

Staff Members: Kathy Byrnes Erin Buckley Joe Citera

Tom DeMarco Katie Fischer Susan Leighton

Emily McCloskey Chrissy Quisenberry Sydney Scheiner

Liz Walsh Nicholas Tumolo Emily Wilms

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Villanovan | 3

NEWS

Nationwide Zoom Outage Affects University Classes Emily Cox Co-Editor-in-Chief

Zoom, the video conferencing application that has become the go-to mode for virtual University classes since spring, reported an outage Monday in many areas of the United States. For students and faculty at the University, this meant various classes Monday morning were postponed or cancelled.

“We have received reports of users being unable to visit the Zoom website (zoom.us) and unable to start and join Zoom Meetings and Webinars,” the company said in a statement Monday morning. “We are currently investigating and will provide updates as we have them.”

Seniors Christopher Hibbs and Shane Callahan had an Astronomy course affected by the outage.

“My professor had issues logging into Zoom, so the class got pushed back 25 minutes,” Hibbs said. “He mentioned doing today’s class again at 7:00 p.m., showing flexibility and passion for teaching the subject.”

While some classes were affected by the outage, not all were.

One senior, Nicole Clarke, reported that her Geography course, Global Change, Local Places, still occurred via Zoom at 11:30 a.m.

“I didn’t know Zoom was even having problems,” Clarke said. “My roommate came into our

room and showed me the email from UNIT halfway into my class.

I had no idea, and most students were present for class.”

“Initially we could not reproduce the issue, but with further testing on different platforms we were able to replicate the problem,” Kevin Donahue, Assistant Vice President for Instructional Technologies within UNIT, said.

“Once the outage was confirmed, we communicated what we knew to the Villanova community.”

The email from UNIT to members of the community came just after 12:00 p.m. EDT, alerting students and faculty that Zoom was experiencing a partial outage impacting various colleges and customers nationwide.

To troubleshoot the problems with the application until fixed, UNIT identified various workarounds to help both students and faculty sign into Zoom.

“What became apparent was that most of our users that experienced problems were logging into Zoom via their web browser,” Donahue said. “[This was] a learning opportunity, and something we will work to educate the community about moving forward are the desktop and mobile apps that Zoom offers. The desktop app for both PC and Mac computers provides a better experience in a number of ways. People who already had the apps and had logged into them previously, stayed logged in and therefore didn’t experience

This screenshot from DownDetector shows the partial Zoom outage that left many unable to use the popular video conferencing app on Monday morning.

Courtesy of Yahoo! Money / DownDetector.com

the outage directly. In addition, the desktop app allows the participants greater control: the ability to switch between content and speakers, or focus on a gallery view of all participants, for example.

Lastly, we installed a number of cameras, microphones, and other AV equipment over the summer in preparation for fall and the desktop app more seamlessly identifies

and connects to this equipment for hybrid and simulcast courses.”

According to Zoom, the initial error occurred due to a security enhancement it had implemented.

It was intended to improve cloud sync and security across the platform’s cloud. The new feature created the bug many experienced in the web interface, which was later identified and fixed at 1:10 p.m.

Albert Lepage Center Pivots Towards Coronavirus and Crisis Collection Research in 2020 Catherine Kemnitz Staff Writer

Recently, the Albeert Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at the University received a grant to fund projects related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Co-Editor-in-Chief Emily Cox had the opportunity to speak with both Jason Steinhauer, director of the Lepage Center, and Beaudry Allen, the preservation and digital archivist at Falvey Memorial Library.

The Lepage Center wants students to share what life has been like for them during the pandemic. Steinhauer has made it clear they are looking for a wide range of stories.

“We want to hear from students of every year – juniors, seniors, international, domestic, law, nursing, engineering, the whole gamut,” Steinhauer said.

“We also want to know how staff, faculty, etc are handling this.”

These stories are being collected digitally as “videos, short movies, photographs, PDF or Word Documents that encapsulate experiences or thoughts can be uploaded.”

One of the most important aspects pf this project is the partnership between the library and the Lepage Center. Falvey

Memorial Library has been collecting stories and information about the public reaction to the pandemic for months. Steinhauer explained that the Lepage Center “isn’t a repository,” so they’re aware that by working with the library they can connect the projects with the different stories to create a well rounded and true understanding of what life is like today.

With the focus being on digital submission, it is not hard for students to share. Therefore, a big part of the projects is keeping the stories organized. Because the Lepage Center wants as many stories told as possible, the process of organizing these stories is extremely important and this is where Allen and her team play a big role.

Allen explained that the University archives have never preserved information like this in such a great quantity. The hope is to put all such information into a digital library where it can be accessed by students.

Both Allen and Steinhauer acknowledge that typically, the world would not see such a collection happening after the pandemic, but collecting them during the pandemic adds a certain authenticity and rawness that they are committed to preserving and sharing.

Today’s world has become so consumed with anxiety and

fear. Critical questions of when this will be over and when a vaccine will be released seem to be all we can focus on. This grant enables people to think more about how they’ve felt over the past couple of months. It enables people to understand each other more, as such stories and projects

will eventually be available to the public.

There is a real commitment to getting a cross-section of real stories. One of their main goals right now is just getting the word out and promotion. If you have a story to share, then you are encouraged to do so.

Lepage with Dean Adele Lindenmeyr Courtsey of Villanova University

4 | The Villanovan

NEWS

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

A Week in Review: The 2020 Democratic National Convention Kicks off the Race to November 3 Ryan Harms Co-News Editor

On Monday, Aug. 17, the Democractic National Convention began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The convention was hosted by activist and actress Eva Longoria.

The first day of the DNC featured live and pre-recorded speeches from citizens across the country.

Notable speakers from the evening included governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, former governor of Ohio John Kasich and Michelle Obama.

Cuomo addressed the nation and spoke about New York’s response to COVID-19. He condemned President Donald Trump’s reaction to COVID-19, calling it “dysfunctional and incompetent.”

He addressed racism and tragic events that have occurred in the country, specifically noting, “the antisemitism, the anti-Latino, the anti-immigrant fervor, the racism in Charlottesville where the KKK didn’t even bother to wear their hoods, and in Minnesota where the life was squeezed from Mr. Floyd.”

Cuomo went on to describe these problems in American society as symptoms of a virus that are augmented by divisions between Americans that are increased by Donald Trump’s White House.

Cuomo called for Americans to choose a disciplined leader who will unite the country. He endorsed Joe Biden and referred to him as “America tough.”

Another notable speech was delivered by Kasich. The former Ohio governor referred to himself as a “lifelong Republican” and endorsed Joe Biden. Kasich highlighted Biden’s understanding of the needs of the common people and the mutual respect they have

Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times

for each other, despite their different party allegiances.

Sanders called on his supporters to support Biden. Similar to Governor Cuomo, Sanders denounced Trump’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanders referred to Trump as “the most dangerous president in history.”

Sanders highlighted Biden’s initiatives to improve the economy, such as increasing the minimum wage, greater access to unions and increased parental leave.

Michelle Obama began her speech by expressing her love for the country and the hope she has for its future. She explained the demands of the office of the presidency and referenced the 2016 election, urging Americans to vote for Biden in November. Obama even wore a gold necklace that spelled out the word “vote,” further enforcing her message on the importance of voting.

The second day of the DNC kicked off with a virtual keynote speech. Seventeen Democrats, referred to as “rising stars from all across the country,” addressed the nation, rather than just one individual. The joint keynote address highlighted Biden’s political experience and focused on the future initiatives Biden will implement if elected.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the DNC. Clinton criticized Trump’s COVID-19 response and referred to the oval office as “chaotic” and a “storm center.” Clinton applauded Biden’s plan to rebuild the economy for the better for the American people.

Biden officially accepted the Democractic nomination via a virtual roll call that included representatives from 57 states and territories.

Biden and his wife, Villanova graduate Jill Biden, spoke

together at the DNC. The Bidens explained their relationship and family history. Biden’s commitment to affordable health care was highlighted, so was the loss of his first wife and daughter in a car accident, along with his son’s battle with cancer. In Jill Biden’s speech, delivered from Brandywine High School, the former second lady emphasized her commitment to education. She celebrated Biden’s character and looked to the future.

“We have shown that the heart of this nation still beats with kindness and courage,” Jill Biden said. “That’s the soul of America Joe Biden is fighting for now.”

On the third day of the DNC, Senator Kamala Harris accepted the vice presidential nomination. Harris is the first Black and South Asian woman selected for a major political party ticket. Notable speakers also included former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

In her speech, Clinton shared details about her relationship with Biden and said, “Everyone has a story about Joe’s thoughtfulness and empathy.” Similar to Michelle Obama’s speech, Clinton expressed the importance of voting. She endorsed Biden’s clean energy and emergency relief plans. Clinton also praised the selection of Kamala Harris, calling the senator “relentless in the pursuit of justice and uncommonly kind.”

Pelosi began her speech referencing the history of women’s advancement. Pelosi said that Mitch McConnell and President Trump are “standing in the way” of diversity and democracy. Pelosi endorsed Biden and Harris, referring to the pair as “battle tested” and “committed.”

Former President Barack

Obama delivered his speech from Philadelphia, where the United States Constitution was signed. In his speech, he discussed the Constitution, recognizing the document’s flaws and how it describes the role of president. About President Trump, Obama said Trump has “no interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves.” Obama endorsed Biden and referred to him as a brother and a friend.

On the final night of the convention, former mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg spoke in support of Biden. Bloomberg mentioned Biden’s role in job creation during his two terms under Obama. Bloomberg criticized Trump’s presidency and said to viewers, “Tonight, I’m not asking you to vote against Trump because he’s a bad guy. I’m urging you to vote against him because he’s done a bad job.”

The DNC concluded with Biden delivering his acceptance speech. Biden’s son Hunter and daughter Ashley introduced him prior to his speech. A video of his son Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, introducing him at the 2008 and 2012 Democractic conventions, was also included.

Biden began his speech with a quote by civil rights activist, Ella Baker: “Give people light and they will find the way.”

Biden described Trump’s presidency as a time of darkness for America, but that if elected, he would be “an ally to the light.”

Biden’s speech looked to the future with his plan to rebuild the economy and to “rebuild it better” than it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DNC consisted of mainly virtual speeches and performances.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

NEWS

The Villanovan | 5

What Happened the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame this lightly,” and had consulted with local and state experts along with infectious-disease experts at the university.

Last week, The University

Notre Dame’s President, of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., also and University of Notre Dame issued a statement. announced modified fall plans after “The virus is a formidable seeing spikes in coronavirus cases foe,” Jenkins said to the student on their campuses. Both universities body. “For the past week, it has began holding in-person classes on been winning. Let us, as the FightAug. 10 but then decided to revise ing Irish, join together to contain their plans only a week into their it.” academic school years. On Monday, Many wonder if the UniverAug. 17, UNC-Chapel Hill notified sity will soon see the same results the public of its choice to disconand be forced to move entirely tinue in-person teaching for under- online or even send students home. graduates, and on Tuesday, Aug. There are plenty of aspects that 18, Notre Dame said that all of its could be factored into the spread of teaching would switch online for at coronavirus on those campuses. least the next two weeks. UNC was UNC, with about 20,000 underthe first university to officially send graduate students, is one of the students home after reopening, but largest universities to bring its stumany other institutions have made dents back during the COVID-19 similar decisions, such as not allow- pandemic. Notre Dame has a smalling students to come back to camer student body, though, with only pus at all.

12,000 undergraduate students, yet

UNC-Chapel Hill and Notre it still faces the same problem of Dame are just a week ahead of the spread. Villanova has about 7,000 University in their academic sched- undergraduate students, for comules. At the time of their announce- parison. ments to move online, UNC had at University President Rev. least 177 of its students test positive Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A, Ph.D. for the virus, and Notre Dame had reported in an email on Aug. 20 at least 147 positive cases. that “[University] residence halls

After UNC’s first week, the are nearly filled.” He shared, campus health clinic reported that “There are 4,945 total campus the test positivity rate had risen residents compared to 5,214 at from 2.8 percent to 13.6 percent. the same time last year,” and only Regarding the choice to move “4.6% of the traditional undercompletely online, the school’s graduates requested a fully online chancellor, Kevin M. Guskiewicz, schedule for Fall 2020.” and provost, Robert A. Bloin, wrote On the other hand, UNC’s in an email, “We have not taken on-campus housing was at less than Molly Mook Staff Writer

two-thirds of capacity.

The state of North Carolina is ranked ninth in the United States for the most coronavirus cases, with over 153,000 lab-confirmed cases, according to the CDC COVID-19 Data Tracker. Pennsylvania is ranked twelfth and has more than 127,000 confirmed cases. Indiana, where Notre Dame is located, has about 84,000 confirmed cases and is ranked twentieth in the nation.

The issue of spread most likely comes from the actions of and precautions, or lack thereof, taken by students. Just like at the University, mask-wearing and social distancing were expected and enforced at both UNC and Notre Dame. However, the concern comes with off-campus gatherings. On Friday, Aug. 14, the first UNC coronavirus “cluster” of five or more cases were reported in two student housing facilities. The next day, a third cluster was identified at a fraternity house, and on Sunday, a fourth cluster at another residence hall. At Notre Dame, most of the students with positive tests live off-campus, and many of the cases were linked to two off-campus parties. The students in attendance were mostly seniors who failed to practice social distancing or wear masks.

Now, UNC is allowing students to leave campus housing without financial penalty. Notre Dame has since closed public campus spaces, prohibited off-campus students from visiting campus, and limited gatherings from 20 people to 10.

“If these steps are not suc-

cessful, we will have to send students home, as we did last spring,” Father Jenkins warned.

Villanova’s Community First: CARITAS Commitment already has many expectations set in place for the community, like wearing a mask, regulating symptoms, following social distancing guidelines, limiting travel and abstaining from large social gatherings, but going into the first full weekend of the fall semester, Father Peter issued a warning to students about the effects of ignoring the guidelines and partying.

“As we have seen at other colleges and universities this past week, this is not something to be taken lightly,” he said. “If your actions force us to close, it’s not just for this semester. It will be for the rest of the year.”

Universities like UNC and Notre Dame have come under scrutiny for failing to protect their students and have been told that opening was not a good decision.

Father Peter told the community that he has “heard it all this week.”

Though many believe “it’s only a matter of time” and “what happened at all those other schools will happen here too,” he said, “Prove.

Them. Wrong.”

He finished his Aug. 21 email with the message: “This is our opportunity, Villanova. Our one shot to do it right. Show the naysayers that it can be done, and that we are going to be the ones to do it. Let’s show the world what it means to be a Villanovan. V’s up.

Masks on. Community First.”

Republican and Democratic Presidential Campaigns Heat Up Leading into Conventions Jack Birle Staff Writer

Leading into the national party conventions, President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden appear to be headed towards a tightening Presidential race.

On Aug. 11, Biden selected California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. Harris became the third woman to be selected as a vice-presidential nominee by a major party ticket, following Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008. Harris is also the first Black and South Asian woman to run on a major party ticket.

The next day, Biden introduced Harris as his running mate at an event in Wilmington, Delaware.

“One of the reasons I chose Kamala is because we both believe that we can define America simply in one word, possibilities,” Biden said.

Harris, in her first public address as Biden’s running mate, reassured Biden’s campaign message, while starkly contrasting the Trump campaign.

“[This election is] about building this country back better,” Harris said. “And that’s exactly what Joe and I will do.”

Harris has been viewed as a more liberal pick for vice-president. GovTrack rated Harris as “most liberal compared to all senators” in 2019.

The Biden campaign stated it had raised over $26 million in campaign contributions in the 24 hours following his running mate announcement.

The day of the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, CNN published a poll which appeared to show Trump narrowing the gap between him and Biden. The poll showed Biden-Harris at 50% and TrumpPence at 46%, with a margin of error of +/- 4%.

Polls published before this CNN poll appeared to show as much as a 10-point lead in favor of the Biden campaign. Trump trailed the Clinton-Kaine ticket in 2016 by a similar margin just before the conventions.

The Trump campaign looks to make Kamala Harris and her policy views an main issue of the campaign. Advertisements from the Trump campaign have already

Courtesty of Time Magazine

declared far-left politicians are running the Biden campaign.

“The radical left has taken over Joe Biden and the Democratic Party,” a narrator in a recent Trump ad said. “Don’t let them take over America.”

The Biden campaign hopes to distance itself from extreme views with a theme of unity at the Democratic National Convention.

The week after the DNC, Republicans hope to boost the Trump campaign in the polls during the Republican National Convention.

Both parties will hold their conventions virtually, with the DNC having limited in-person events in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the RNC having limited in-person events in Charlotte, North Carolina.

6 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

OPINION

Committing to Sustainability During COVID-19 Tina Aron Staff Writer

The coronavirus pandemic, if nothing else, revealed to us that it is possible to make a dramatic change to our daily lives, especially if that change is urgent enough.

The climate crisis has been raging for years. However, the United States has not taken necessary action to minimize the damage. As we attempt to live our lives during this pandemic, we have made the switch to a disposable culture. While this change may be necessary, there are avenues of one-use items that can aid the cause towards a sustainable future.

While doing a great job at providing a safe environment and taking necessary precautions to keep its students healthy, Villanova is falling short when it comes to its distribution of single-use containers and cutlery. The use of one-time food storage and utensils makes sense in limiting contact. However, the overwhelming choice of Styrofoam and plastic dining-ware is blind to the issue. While plastic may be recyclable, once the container is contaminated by food, it is no longer recyclable.

In the event that a contaminated recycled container is placed in the recycling waste stream, it could render the whole load useless. A

cardboard one-use container, while no longer recyclable once used, is biodegradable and will break down faster than its plastic counterpart.

Styrofoam, or polystyrene (a petroleum-based plastic), is harmful to both the environment and human health. Styrofoam is not biodegradable and is notorious for accumulating along coastlines and waterways around the world. Also, styrene, a foundational ingredient used in the creation of Styrofoam, is an EPA established carcinogen.

There are sustainable alternatives to both plastic and Styrofoam, but they were seemingly over-

One of many disposable utensil stations located around campus.

Courtesy of The Villanovan looked by Villanova. Compostable print; however, it is extremely hard food packaging services exist and when students are forced to use are being utilized by major corpora- damaging and unsustainable onetions like Dunkin’ Donuts, proving use food containers. that these alternatives can be put to I appreciate Villanova’s practical use. efforts to keep students on campus,

Earth has just passed 2020’s but please encourage the University Earth Overshoot Day on Aug. 22, to look deeper into its own ecothe imaginary point when humanlogical footprint. As students, we ity’s demand exceeds what Earth can help the cause by purchasing can regenerate in a year. From now reusable cutlery and straws, propuntil the end of the year, we will be erly recycling and minimizing our borrowing, entering an ecological personal carbon footprint wherevdeficit as we use local resources that er necessary. As a nation, we can are meant for the future. We have remember to vote on Nov. 3 for a the chance to push this date back by candidate with climate change as a minimizing our own carbon footprominent issue.

Reflections on Community First: One Week In Catherine Kemnitz Staff Writer

Villanova’s social distancing guidelines, part of The CARITAS Commitment Courtesy of Villanova University

malcy without actually experiencing it? We’re just kids who miss normal life.

But we all feel that way,

Recently, some of my and we don’t all get to just friends received a harsh conse- take back what was lost now. quence as a result of breaking There is still a global pandemCommunity First: The CARic. The truth is none of us will ITAS Commitment. When I get that lost time back. For found out more about the cirnow, all we can (and should) cumstance, I was shocked, sad do is try to keep ourselves and and angry. I know these kids; others safe. they weren’t going about their This isn’t a groundnight with any sort of ignobreaking realization, I know. rance or arrogance. They are I spent my summer frustrated smart people. They are good with how people were going people, but they made a misabout quarantine, confused as tak, and now they’re dealing to how they couldn’t just do with harsh consequences. the right thing. But being back

I festered for a night, on campus, with everything thought about what, if anyjust as we left it before getting thing, I could do to help — sent home, I expected things anything to call attention to should be normal. As I’m sure the unfairness I saw in the sit- many others felt, the longinguation, but the more I thought ness for what life used to be about it, the more conflicted I intensified, which meant the felt, and I finally came to this realization I couldn’t have it conclusion. hurt even more.

We all feel robbed. We

Recognizing that my anall were robbed. From the loss ger was really sadness and disof a loved one to not being appointment has brought some able to see one’s friends for peace. However, the school is months, nobody got through working to keep us safe so we the pandemic untouched. With can stay on campus. It’s not such a feeling of injustice the same, but we’re here and comes a desire for reconciliawe have each other. tion.

Longing for what’s miss Why shouldn’t we get ing and trying to take back the to take back the missing time? time will only lead to disapWhy can’t we make the most pointment. We can’t change of the time we finally have? the situation we’re in, so we’ve How can we be expected to be got to make the best of it and living in a way so close to nor- work to make the future better.

OPINION

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

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

The Villanovan | 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

The Villanovan encourages all members of the Villanova community to voice their opinions. Letters to the editors may be submitted via e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com. Letters must not exceed 500 words and must be signed. No anonyous letters will be published. All submissions become property of The Villanovan and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

POLICY

The unsigned editorial that appears is the opinion of The Villanovan as deteermined by the majority of the Editorial Board. Other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their auhtors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Villanovan.

What it Means to Be a Student Again This Semester Jack Roberge Opinion Editor

I will wake up tomorrow as a student. For the first time in the months since we began our journey into this pandemic, I am truly a student again. I don’t mean this in the sense that I will be going to classes and learning things, though that is certainly part of it. I and many others took classes over the summer, and we of course all finished last semester in the online classroom, but I wouldn’t consider that “being a student.” What I mean by student, in this case, is deeper than being someone who goes to class.

I am waking up tomorrow on this campus, surrounded by my peers.

I spent the last two hours, on a Sunday night knowing I had class in the morning, talking to a friend about life and the meaning therein. I grabbed a pizza from Campus Corner with my roommates and watched a hockey game with them while we all talked about the upcoming semester. While campus certainly feels strange, I finally feel like a student again, in the truest sense. Sure, I’ll be getting back to work on my classes tomorrow, but I’ll also start to see my friends walking

around campus and go to get Holy Grounds in the spur of the moment.

We can’t sit and chat with a group of friends in the pit, but we can gather with our chairs in the quad and do the same there.

This semester will not be normal, but it certainly can be great, and I am starting to realize that I, like everyone else, went into this semester hesitantly. I still, of course, have certain reservations about how things will go. One thing I know for certain, however, is that this semester

will be awful if I don’t seize it. The things I usually did on campus are no longer available to me, but perhaps that opens up a new avenue for me to get involved somewhere or do things I didn’t even think of before. This semester, and making the best of it, is going to require a great deal of creativity from myself and everyone else on this campus. I have no doubt that we can do it.

I have now realized, without reservation, that I want, even need, to be on campus for the remainder

of this semester. There are plenty of things I dislike; Falvey is incredibly strange to be in right now and I am not exactly looking forward to Zoom club meetings or class. That being said, there isn’t even a shadow of a doubt in my mind that these sacrifices are worth getting to be a student again, and I think, with some reflection, we all feel that way. I wish everyone a creative and full semester, and I look forward to working together to ensure that we all get to be true students.

Students respecting Caritas guidelines while gathered around the Oreo.

Courtesy of The Villanovan

A Letter from the Editors-in-Chief: Welcome Back

It feels good to be back, Wildcats. We weren’t really sure this week would come, but it feels amazing to be back on campus with all of you.

We know you have heard this before, but students to students, we are asking you to pledge yourself to The CARITAS Commitment. This semester will not work unless we all promise to put the health and safety of our community first.

The University had faith in us. They made a calculated decision to bring us back to campus, put regulations in place and set up guidelines for the year. With that in mind, we all need to do our part.

Colleges and universities across the nation are already sending students home. Some did not even bring students back to campus. It’s safe to say that most of us will always remember how sad we were to leave the University last March to go home, and we certainly do not want to do that again.

As a community, we are watching the coronavirus take its toll on our friends, families, mentors and teachers. As of Tuesday, we have already seen our first case within the immediate student body. If we aren’t careful about our decisions, this virus could soon affect all of us, in more ways than it already has.

Students are already being sent home for not following health and safety guidelines. The administration isn’t joking when it comes to this.

We are more than happy to be back with our friends and Villanova family, but to stay here, we need to make smarter decisions.

We need to wear masks, stay distanced, prioritize health, stay safe and remember why we are lucky to be here. We are lucky to be back because Villanova believes in its students, faculty and staff.

Although there is faith, staying here will take more than that alone The University is working closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and CDC to ensure that as a community, we are also looking at facts and figures to determine our course of action.

With one weekend down and so many to go, keep your circles small. Figure out new ways to spend time with your friends in a safe way.

College is all about learning new things and meeting new people, but we promise you that a big party can wait. Simply, it isn’t worth the risk of having to spend another nine months taking classes in our bedrooms at home.

Let’s stay smart, ‘Cats.

Let’s prove them wrong.

Courtesy of The Villanovan

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT DAYS monday, august 31st 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm 9-10 pm

virtual student involvement day kickoff with sga and cat music activities: dance organizations music activities: vocal organizations music activities: instrumental organizations

tuesday, september 1st 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm

academic organizations: business societies academic organizations: engineering culture and identity organizations

wednesday, september 2nd 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm

advocacy organizations religious and spiritual organizations service organizations

thursday, september 3rd 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm

media organizations student interest organizations student interest organizations

friday, september 4th 6-7 pm 7-8 pm 8-9 pm

fraternities and sororities office ambassadors student theatre

thursday, september 5th 11am-12 graduate organizations 1-2 pm nursing organizations 2-3 pm campus recreation

friday, september 6th 11am-12 academic organizations: arts and political 1-2 pm academic organizations: languages and honors 2-3 pm academic organizations: sciences

I pledge to keep the Villanova Community healthy and safe by: • Putting Community First by considering others when making decisions and doing my part to keep myself and others healthy and safe.

• Wearing a mask in public and shared spaces.

• Practicing good personal hygiene, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

• Following social distancing guidelines in all my interactions.

• Self-monitoring and reporting any COVID-19 symptoms.

• Limiting non-essential travel.

• Holding my fellow community members accountable and reminding them to put Community First.

• Acting respectfully and caringly in all my interactions.

Working together, we are capable of having an incredible year at Villanova!

10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

CULTURE

First Look at Katy Perry’s Newest Album “Smile” A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor

On Aug. 5, international pop sensation Katy Perry spoke with moderator Madison Florence from the organization °1824 at a press conference for student journalists. °1824 is a network that focuses on connecting artists directly to fans. The topic of the press conference was Perry’s upcoming album “Smile.”

This album marks a moment of growth in Perry’s career.

Perry spoke candidly about how she wrote this record in darkest times of life, when she was very flatlined and clinically depressed. She claimed that working on “Smile” helped her get out of this negative loop. Perry reflected on her emotional ups-anddowns over the past few years and her ability to overcome it all in the album.

“There’s a lot of hopefulness and resilience and joy as themes in the record,” Perry said.

Perry believes that the themes in “Smile” are more mature than themes in her previous work and that she has grown along with us throughout the course of her career.

“It’s like we’re raising each other,” Perry said of her relationship with her fans.

Still, the album is not entirely serious. Anybody who has listened to or watched the music videos of fun singles, like “California Girls,” knows that Perry enjoys incorporating humor in her works to bring levity to the seriousness of life. This trend continues with her album “Smile,” which is reminiscent of her other “pure pop” albums like “Teenage Dream” and “Prism.”

In between more serious songs on her new album, like “What Makes a Woman,” are positive, lighthearted songs like “Cry About It Later.” On the album cover, Perry even embraces a clown aesthetic.

“I’m returning to more carefree pop roots,” Perry said.

In the future, Perry hopes to continue experimenting with different sonic landscapes. She already began changing up her sound more dramatically, with her most recent album “Witness” in 2017, which incorporated EDM elements.

After “Smile,” Perry plans to try her hand in house music or perhaps produce more acoustic works.

The album “Smile” will be released Friday, Aug. 28. Listeners can find it on all major streaming services. The album’s singles “Daisies” and “Smile” are already out and available for streaming.

Katy Perry’s “Smile” Album Cover Courtesy of Christine Hahn

Weekly Club Spotlight: Villanova Television (VTV) Ally Weitzman Staff Writer With a semester truly like none other, organizations all over campus are struggling to adapt to the new COVID-19 restrictions.

For Villanova Television, the University’s main student film and media organization, changes were already underway before the semester even began. As soon as students were sent home in the spring, executive board members brainstormed different ways to create content virtually, while being hundreds of miles away from each other.

This was the start of a new

Episode 1 of “Distance Learning” Courtesy of Villanova Television

VTV series called “Distance Learning.” Filmed over Zoom, this series is a parody of what online learning is like at Villanova.

Realizing that creativity could still persevere in times of uncertainty, VTV decided to continue creating content into the summer.

With serious issues like police brutality and inclusion on campus coming to the forefront, VTV wanted to use its platform to amplify student voices on campus as a way to contribute to the dialogue.

From this came “Calls for Change,” a new segment in which news director Miguel Badia and other members of the executive board members interview organizations and students affiliated with

the University. So far, Get Woke Nova, the National Association of Black Accountants, National Society of Black Engineers, Haseeb Waseem and Mary Kate Smith have been featured on the show.

Waseem is a student activist who co-created a petition to mandate race-related courses for all University students, and Smith is a 2019 alumnus and social justice activist who worked with the Intergroup Relations program to promote allyship and inclusion on campus.

With this project in full force, VTV was very confident that it could continue to film the series successfully throughout the semester, along with other types of socially distant and virtual projects.

In regards to plans for the fall, for VTV, the safety of its members is its top priority. The executive board continues to discuss numerous ways that in-person filming can still continue while following all CDC and University guidelines.

VTV President Zach Mann is hopeful that in-person filming can easily be completed at a distance and encourages the Department Heads (Entertainment, Sports, News, External, and Internal) to embrace mask-wearing and integrate it into their filmmaking. Also, due to these restrictions, VTV is inspired to return its broadcast roots by experimenting with live streaming. Whether it be comedy sketches similar to those on Saturday Night Live, or news segments, Mann believes live streaming could be the new way to reach more Vil-

“Calls for Change with Haseeb Waseem” (From left to right, top to bottom: Haseeb Waseem, Miguel Badia, Ally Weitzman)

Courtesy of Villanova Television

lanovans at this time.

With regard to Internal Affairs, club body meetings will be orchestrated over Zoom, due to difficulty socially distancing with the entire club present at the studio in the basement of Tolentine Hall. However, club bonding is one of the pillars of VTV, and therefore it’s important for VTV to continue to find ways for new and old members to join together. Some ideas include an outdoor movie event, different film challenges with small groups and playing interactive games over Zoom.

Ultimately, for VTV, its main goal is to create content that encapsulates the time period that students are in right now. It does not want to shy away from this moment, but rather embrace the obstacles that come with these unprecedented times.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

CULTURE

The Villanovan | 11

Most Popular Music Releases of the Year (So Far) A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor

Five months after COVID-19 began to truly sweep through the world, the music industry appears on the surface to be one of the few industries to have weathered the pandemic successfully. After all, music consumption is now almost entirely digital (vinyl sales have skyrocketed over the past few years, but streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music are the clear default for listening habits in 2020). COVID-19 has led to the cancellations of nearly all concerts and music festivals, as well as the delay of many albums, but streaming rates have still remained relatively constant.

With the extra time at home, it makes sense that people are spending it consuming music. Here’s a review of some of the newly-released music that has been getting people through 2020.

The year began with Harry Styles’ domination of the charts with his album “Fine Line,” the biggest debut from a British male artist since the Nielsen SoundScan sales data system began about thirty years ago. The single “Watermelon Sugar” from the album has been dubbed by some as the “Song of the Summer” for 2020.

Not long after “Fine Line” came a long-awaited project by The Weeknd.

“After Hours,” which produced the popular single “Blinding Lights,” was a powerful medley of dream pop and R&B that had many of the sensual and self-loathing themes present in his earlier works.

By far, the top-selling album of 2020 (as of August) is Taylor Swift’s “Folklore.” “Folklore” made Swift the first act in history to debut atop both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts in the same week (the single “Cardigan” topped the Billboard Hot 100 in late July). This acoustic, indie-folk album was a stylistic shift for Swift away from the electronic pop she has embraced for the past eight years.

Other notable album releases this year included “The Slow Rush” by the psychedelic pop-rock group Tame Impala, “Ungodly Hour” by R&B duo Chloe x Halle, “Chromatica” by Lady Gaga, “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa and “Limbo” by rapper Aminé. In rock, msuic lovers have seen the release of “The New Abnormal”

by The Strokes and “Imploding the Mirage” by The Killers, two critically-acclaimed albums seen as a return to form for both of the bands. Two popular posthumous albums released this year were “Circles” by Mac Miller and “Legends Never Die” by JUICE WRLD. Both artists died of accidental drug overdoses back in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

One of the most interesting phenomena of the year has been the effect of TikTok on the music industry.

TikTok has brought relatively unknown songs to overnight success in 2020. Some examples include “Stunnin’” by Curtis Waters, “WHATS POPPIN” by Jack Harlow, “Funny Thing” by Thundercat, “Dark Red”

by Steve Lacy (which was actually released back in 2017) and of course, “Say So” by Doja Cat, which TikTok

helped launch to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Along with Doja Cat, another artist who has been a force to be reckoned with (both on TikTok and in wider society) is Megan Thee Stallion. The singles “Savage,” “Girls in the Hood” and “Captain Hook” all inspired TikTok dance challenges and charted those songs in the process.

And of course, it’s hard to ignore her current explosive single “WAP” with Cardi B, a song that is making its way around social media (inspiring many memes) and topping the Billboard charts.

As students and listeners alike settle into the fall semester, we expect more great music to cap off this tumultuous year. Katy Perry’s album “Smile” comes out this Friday, Aug. 28. Lana Del Rey’s “Chemtrails Over the Country Club,” Joji’s “Nectar,” and The Neighbourhood’s “Chip Chrome & The Mono-Tones” all come out

this September and K-pop sensation Blackpink’s “Blackpink: The Album” comes out this October.

Other artists that are reported to release new albums by the end of the year are Rihanna, Adele, Frank Ocean, Sam Smith, The Jonas Brothers, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Brockhampton and SZA. All of the works above only scratch the surface of music in 2020. Go on any streaming service, and you will see the countless options to explore.

Maybe take some time on your walks to classes or your workouts at the gym to give a listen to more unknown artists. In stressful times, music can be a source of comfort and inspiration.

You might not be able to attend that concert or that music festival you were planning on going to this semester (R.I.P. Made in America Festival 2020), but music is still everywhere just waiting to be heard.

Taylor Swift’s “Folklore” Album Cover Courtesy of Variety Magazine

Production Halt 2020: What’s Coming Out This Fall Chris DiLullo Staff Writer

The coronavirus has disrupted all aspects of life. From regular trips to the grocery store to life here on campus, things have been altered in serious ways and the normal proceedings of life have been changed as such. The media industry has not escaped these changes either, with movie theaters shutting down for months, television production stalling and many musicians being forced out of the studio.

However, artists have been doing their best to get work done and productions out in public despite the extenuating circumstances.

Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” Courtesy of IMDb

From big-name directors making Netflix original movies to Disney releasing films previously slated for a theater release on Disney+, all media companies and organizations, including the artists themselves, are reacting in new, innovative ways to try their best to succeed during this unparalleled time.

Netflix has been among the pioneers in releasing media during the pandemic, from smashes like “Outer Banks” and “Tiger King” this spring to adding “Avatar: The Last Airbender” to its catalog this summer. Now, with four pivotal months approaching until the end of the year, the streaming service has a new slate of original projects to release to viewers to continue

its dominance in 2020. One of its largest series titles, “The Crown” recently released the first trailer for its fourth season, reassuring a dedicated fan base that this highly anticipated installment made it through production before the gridlock initiated in mid-March.

“I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” set for release on Sept. 4, 2020, is the newest project from Charlie Kaufman, the mind behind “Being John Malkovich” and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.” Adapted from a novel of the same name, this film could play a role in the race for award shows such as the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. Netflix has also lined up a star-studded cast for “The Devil All The Time,” including Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Sebastian Stan.

With parts of the country continuing to reopen, movie theaters are as well, giving studios the opportunity to release films that were previously projected for a summer theatrical release during the fall months. Christopher Nolan’s newest film, “Tenet,” has been long-delayed since its original release date of July 17. Now, the film from the director behind “The Dark Knight” and “Inception” is, for the time being, set to hit theaters on Sept. 3, wherever theaters are open.

Just one day after, on Sept.

4, Disney will take its own stab at re-entering the movie market. However, Disney is choosing to avoid the movie theater and will instead

release the long-awaited live-action adaptation of “Mulan” on Disney+, giving the streaming service’s users the option to watch the film from the comfort of their own home.

Following the trend that the studio took earlier this summer with the release of “Hamilton,” Disney remains Netflix’s main challenger for streaming dominance and may have the big blockbuster to knock Netflix off its mantle this fall.

While streaming services and movie studios have films set to be released this fall, television production has stalled as a result of the pandemic and studios are scrambling to find shows and projects to air. ABC is set to premiere a new mystery show, “Big Sky,” while NBC looks to compete with their newest show, “Law & Order: Organized Crime.” Studios are also planning on continuing with previously-airing programs and new seasons of hit shows like “This Is Us,” “The Voice” and “The Bachelorette” are all scheduled to air this fall.

The media industry is still trying to recover and learn how to operate in the modern pandemic environment, with the television and film industries looking to innovate and learn new ways to record and release products. Although things are more different now than ever before, the media industry still looks primed to unleash captivating projects, leaving us with one question: What film or television show will grab hold of viewers and listeners next?

12 | The Villanovan

CULTURE

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Rise of The Quarantine Artist at Villanova Grant Carter Co-Culture Editor

When 2020 began, it was the Year of the Rat. Then, it was the year of WWIII. Then, it was wildfires, murder hornets, tiger kings, Megan and Harry, protests, politics, postponements and, of course, a pandemic. The evolution of 2020 has been predicated on a consistent current of absurdity and unpredictability. Despite the chaos that has ensued, and against all odds, 2020 may come to be synonymous with positive changes as well, which, for some students, is now reflected in art.

Just months ago, “quarantine” was conceptually exclusive to Hollywood and science labs, not even a part of the common vocabulary. Yet, within just a few months, it has come to demand radical changes to the American (and Villanova) lifestyle. The underlying expectation required that most everyone stay isolated and sheltered away from the chaos. This has demanded a nearly complete deviation from traditional on-campus life, where University students normally have the license and opportunity to take part in all forms of self-expression. So, when the dust had settled from the mass exodus of mid-March in the wake of COVID-19’s arrival on the East Coast, many were left wondering, outside of their Zoom commitments, “What do I do now?”.

For once, free time had become an ample commodity for many students stuck at home through the remaining spring semester and summer break. With limited options for in-person interaction or activity, many students notably took to social media, especially Instagram, to compensate. Between the massive

An original piece by Lily Switka Courtesy of @lilclubhouse

influx of online activism and masked posts, the feed has become a lobby for student artists to showcase their work, from drawings and paintings, to graphic design or chalky sketches.

For some, like senior Jenna Kolano (@fluorescent.jen) who specializes in monochromatically inspirational doodles, it has become a new pastime to share with friends, under the guise of witty monikers.

Others have used the time to expand on previous artisanship and finish out unfinished projects, such as junior Ryan Weicht (@ryanw. art), who has done his elaborate and intricate Sharpie-drawn landscapes.

Junior Lily Switka (@lilclubhouse) even built a small business out of her paintings throughout the summer, operating out of the actual namesake, a shed in her backyard. Senior Megan Amico (@paintsbymamico) similarly took commissions, and continues to do so, on her painted tracings of popular scenes. Following its grand return to Netflix in late

May, scenes from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” have been in especially high demand for Amico, and it certainly shows on her art account’s feed.

The aforementioned are but a few examples of this unprecedented revolution for the online art community, and below there are some additional student artists listed who are worth checking out. As this abnormal semester progresses into whatever COVID-related fate lies ahead, it will be interesting to see what other trends might emerge on social media and beyond in response to the looming uncertainty and chaos of 2020. Despite all that has happened, this year will undoubtedly be remembered as an unforgettable time, and for some, a year of art. @swikpaints — Mary Swikle @drawingsbymedsker — Hannah Medsker @fluorescent.jen — Jenna Kolano @ryanw.art — Ryan Weicht

An original piece by Megan Amico Courtesy of @paintsbyamico

Back to School Horoscopes: Week of August 24 Elena Rouse Staff Writer

Aries: You are biting off a lot lately, maybe more than you can chew. Try to find what you’re really passionate about and focus in on that instead of spreading yourself too thin.

Taurus: Try to get out and experience life a little more. The intensity of your focus gets the work done, but it also prohibits you from getting out and socializing to your fullest potential.

help. It would be beneficial to stop focusing so much on yourself and more on those around you. When you do, you might be surprised at what you find.

Virgo: It is time for you to put yourself out there and lead.

An opportunity to rise to the occasion will make itself available to you, begging you to embrace your talents and take the chance.

The result will be very positive.

Libra: There is a mystery coming your way. It might be intriguing, scary or both. Either way, it will start to make its pres Gemini: A lingering trouence known. Make sure that you ble from your past has been really stay true to who you are when tugging at you lately. If you stop trying to figure this new part of pushing it away and spend time your life out. focusing on the issue, the solution will quickly reveal itself.

Scorpio: Your temper will be tested this week, and, while

Cancer: There are exciting you might have the means of times ahead for you. Although winning the argument, take the things aren’t perfect now, know time to really ponder if the conthat every step you take is a step sequences of being “right” will be toward new friendships and worth it in the end. In this case, beginnings, so fight through any the result of winning might just awkwardness you may be facing. be the loss of something greater.

Leo: Someone you know is hurting and is in need of your

Sagittarius: A drastic change in your life has left your

heart a little emptier these days.

However, with every turn in life comes new opportunities to explore parts of yourself, giving you the chance to become an even better version of you!

Capricorn: Your upcoming workload is about to exhaust you. Instead of working non-stop, make sure you take time for some rest and relaxation. Keeping a healthy mind is important!

Aquarius: A new love interest will spark for you very soon! While your independence is a great thing, don’t be so stubborn with it that you pass up something potentially awesome.

Pisces: There are questionable decision makers around you right now and it’s important to stand your ground. Instead of being so go with the flow, try to speak your mind. If those around you don’t listen or appreciate what you have to say, maybe it’s time to spend more of your time with people with a greater respect towards you.

Courtesy of The Sydney Morning Herald

CULTURE

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

The Villanovan | 13

Recipes to add to your Culture Cookbook This Year Julia Stansici Culture Staff Writer

Welcome back, Villanova!

Although our return to campus this semester is, without a doubt, highly anticipated, it also poses to look a little different than normal.

As a side effect of all the craziness going on, dining hall procedures have been altered, and many students are finding themselves living off-campus or in an apartment-style dorm for the first time.

This exciting change comes with a daunting expectation for many: cooking for yourself.

For those who didn’t opt to take up the culinary arts and become chefs during quarantine, this brief cookbook is filled with easy recipes that can be followed with basic and cheap ingredients.

Note that most can be made in five minutes or less and will serve one person. Whether this is your first time living independently and cooking for yourself, or you’re just trying to add some diversity to your usual meal routine, enjoy!

Overnight Oats: A healthy, easy and quick option that can be prepared the night before early classes and efficiently eaten grab-n-go style on your walk to class.

Ingredients: BASE: ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats ½ cup milk of choice ¼ cup yogurt 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup ½ tsp Vanilla extract 1 tablespoon chia seeds Other add-in ingredient ideas: -Peanut butter, jelly, nuts and strawberries combo -Banana with Nutella and/or peanut butter, chocolate chips or cocoa powder -Strawberries, banana and vanilla protein powder -Blueberries, peaches and vanilla protein powder -Anything you want! Check Pinter-

est for some more fun and creative ideas Directions -In a mason jar (for aesthetic purposes, obviously) or other container, combine oats and chia seeds -Add yogurt, vanilla, honey or maple syrup, milk and other ingredients of choice -Mix! -Seal/cover with lid -Let chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight is best!)

2 Ingredient Banana Pancakes: Some may be skeptical about this one, but I swear that they actually turn out pretty good. Not the same as regular pancakes, obviously, but they are nutritious, yummy and fluffy Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 2 eggs Optional: ⅛ tsp baking powder, for fluffier pancakes A touch of vanilla extract, honey or maple syrup for flavoring Chocolate chips, chopped nuts or fruit Directions: -Mash the banana (easily done by squeezing it in a ziploc bag or in bowl with a fork) until there are no lumps -Stir together with eggs and other optional add-ins (batter will look more like whisked eggs than pancake batter, but don’t lose hope, they will turn out great!)

-Heat pan over medium heat and grease with butter or spray with nonstick cooking oil -Drop batter onto pan in spoonfuls (leave at least an inch between each pancake) -Cook for a minute or two until the bottoms and edges look golden brown -Flip with spatula (tougher flip than normal pancakes; it needs to be slower and gentler) -Cook for another minute -Enjoy with maple syrup, powdered sugar or butter!

Courtesy of Julia Stansici

Avocado Toast: Ah yes, the essential. A perfect breakfast or lunch item that can be whipped up in minutes.

Ingredients: Slice of bread ½ ripe avocado Pinch of salt Any extra toppings you like! Some fun different variations: Feta cheese and sunflower seeds Trader Joe’s everything bagel seasoning Olive oil drizzle, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and sea salt Poached egg Tomato and mozzarella Directions: -Toast bread -Remove pit from avocado and scoop out avocado with spoon -Mash avocado in a bowl with a fork until it reaches your desired consistency and mix in pinch of salt -Spread onto toast -Add toppings of choice and enjoy!

Chicken Quesadilla: A timeless classic. They really never get old.

(Okay, maybe they do if you eat them every night for two weeks straight like I did, but they’re just so easy to make!)

Ingredients: Flour tortilla (or two, depends how hungry you are) Shredded cheese Shredded or chopped chicken (you can buy grilled chicken at the store and shred or chop it up or get boneless chicken breasts to cook and then shred) Butter or olive oil (for brushing or pan)

Julia’s Avocado Toast Recipe Courtesy of Julia Stansici

Optional add-ins: Peppers, hot sauce, beans, onion, jalapeno and more…

Optional (for serving): Sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, guacamole, pico

de gallo Directions: -Cover ½ of the tortilla w shredded cheese, chicken and whatever else you would like to add -Fold tortilla in half -Heat pan over medium heat and spread with butter or olive oil -Place quesadilla on pan and cook for two minutes or until the bottom is golden and crispy, then flip and repeat for the other side -Remove from pan, let cool and give cheese a minute to set -Slice and enjoy!

Pasta: Any type of pasta is a great option for quick dinners with the roomies, from marinara sauce to pesto, but this Pasta aglio e olio is something special Ingredients: ½ pound spaghetti Dash of salt 3 tsp extra virgin olive oil 4 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped ½ tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste) Optional: 2 tbsp chopped parsley, 1 tbsp capers, parmesan cheese for grating Optional: Add chicken Directions: -Boil water (add a dash of salt) -Put spaghetti in boiling water and cook until al-dente (usually 8-10 min depending on pasta brand) -While pasta is cooking, warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about a minute (but don’t let it brown). Stir in red pepper (and capers if using) and cook for ½ a minute more, then turn off heat -Drain pasta (leave some pasta water if possible for texture). Return it to the pot and pour in the olive oil mixture. Add in parsley and serve with parmesan cheese

Happy cooking!

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

14 | The Villanovan

SPORTS

Big East Announces Support for Black Lives Matter Madison Burke Co-Sports Editor

Back in June at the height of national unrest, a coalition of assistant coaches from the Big East, including Villanova’s Kyle Neptune, created an organization referred to as Coaches for Action.

Soon after the organization’s creation, 21 minority assistant coaches from the Big East stood together calling for social justice. The CFA lobbied for a permanent stay in the league.

The coaches’ objectives included BLM patches on jerseys, increased voting information for athletes and a minority scholarship.

The Big East came out with an announcement on Thursday declaring its support of both the Black Lives Matter movement and the CFA alliance.

“We applaud the initiative and leadership of CFA,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said. “And their efforts to shine a light on the challenges that out Black student-athletes, coaches and administrators face on a daily basis.”

The 11 schools in the Big East conference voted unanimously in support of the Black Lives Matter patches to

be displayed on both the men’s and women’s basketball jerseys for the 2020-21 season. The Big East has continued to issue tweets and other social media posts in support of the CFA and the larger Black Lives Matter movements.

Neptune is starting his seventh season with the Wildcats and continues to advocate for his players and for social justice movements.

“The patch is great,” Neptune said in an interview with ESPN. “But mov-

ing forward, the goal of the group is to do things beyond that. The opportunities are endless.”

While representing the University community, Neptune and his partners at CFA strive to become social justice leaders for the basketball community as a whole.

Butler University has gone a step further in their support by beginning the #BUnited campaign, during which they record and publicize crucial conversations relating to social

injustice. Following the announcement from the Big East, its basketball team released their first conversation where players and coach LaVall Jordan discussed various social issues and posted the video to their twitter (@ butlerMBB).

Neptune and the CFA aim to create more conversations about racial inequalities across America in hopes of continuing new initiatives in support of Black Lives Matter and national equitability.

Courtesy of @BIGEAST Twitter

A Fall Without Villanova Football Due to COVID-19 Nick France Staff Writer For the first time since 1985, Villanova will not have a football season. In July, the Colonial Atlantic Association, of which Villanova is a member, announced that its Board of Directors had voted to suspend all conference competition, in accordance with concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the Big East’s cancellation of fall sports as well, Villanova officially announced it would not be playing football this fall.

This comes in spite of Villanova entering the season with a large

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

amount of returning talent and carrying the expectation of being a true contender for the FCS national title.

The Wildcats were coming off of a season in which they finished 9-4, with a 45-44 loss to Southeastern Louisiana in the first round of the FCS playoffs. However, they had one of the nation’s top offenses, which looked to be even better this year, along with an improved defense.

Three fifth-year seniors on the team, Paul Grattan, Changa Hodge and Todd Summers, decided to transfer in the hopes of still playing a season and pursuing their NFL dreams. Grattan ended up at UCLA, which suspended its

season days later. Hodge is now at Virginia Tech, with the football season planned to happen for the ACC. Finally, Summers ended up at Duquesne University, which also later postponed its season. Head coach Mark Ferrante said that he was committed to helping his fifthyear seniors find a place to finish their careers, even if not at Villanova.

“From our perspective, it’s more bitter than sweet,” Ferrante said.

“But with all the guys, especially the fifth-year guys, I tried to lay out their options. I told them all, we don’t want any of you to transfer, but once it’s determined we’re not playing, if you find a place that is

miraculously going to play, I’ll help you get there.”

As for the rest of the FCS, numerous other conferences have delayed their season to the spring or cancelled entirely. The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Southwestern Athletic Conference, Pioneer Football League, Northeast Conference and Missouri Valley Athletic Conference all announced that they would be postponed to the spring.

Meanwhile, the Ivy League and Patriot League have cancelled their fall seasons and have not stated if they would try to play in the spring.

The situation for FBS continues to evolve as well, with the Big Ten and PAC-12 both announcing they would be suspending their fall seasons. Outside the Power Five conferences, the MAC and the Mountain West Conference both stated they would postpone their seasons as well.

This means that the remaining conferences that will try to play this fall are the ACC, SEC, Big 12, AAC, Sun Belt, Conference USA and independents Liberty, Army and BYU. Notre Dame announced it would participate within the ACC for the 2020 season. Independents UConn, UMass and New Mexico State all announced they would not play, and Old Dominion opted out of the Conference USA plan to play.

Things continue to look different worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the world of sports is nearly unrecognizable. Without football on not just the Villanova campus but across the country, Saturday mornings will not be the same.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

SPORTS

The Villanovan | 15

Inside the Bubble: Former Wildcats Make their Mark Meghann Morhardt Staff Writer Since the NBA postponed its season on March 11, it has been trying to figure out the safest and most effective way to resume play, and it seems as though they have found a solution. The NBA Bubble has been in effect since July 7, and there has yet to be a positive case among coaches, atheltes or staff. Teams had two weeks to regroup, hold practices and scrimmage each other before beginning seeding games on July 30.

Given the unique circumstances, the format of play was adjusted to best fit the time-frame and safety precautions. There were 22 teams who entered the bubble, nine from the Eastern Conference, and 13 from the Western Conference. Each team played eight seeding games that would determine the final rankings entering the playoffs, in which the top eight teams from each conference would compete.

The Western Conference had a play-in game, since the Memphis Grizzlies, the ninth seed, were within one game of the Portland Trailblazers who were the eighth seed.

Portland went on to win that game, securing them the eighth seed, and a playoff berth.

The playoff format is very similar to normal play, with the only differences being the lack of homecourt advantage due to the neutral location that the bubble provides.

Also, there is a more structured

schedule of playing every other day as opposed to the usual format that includes back to back days with games, as well as rest days due to travel time.

This new format required many adjustments from the players and coaching staff. They had to leave their families for an extended period of time, live in a hotel room, eat different food, adjust game-day routines, play without fans, etc. There were multiple players who decided not to attend for various reasons, some being family related, some personal and some political.

The political climate has certainly affected the players and the return to game-play. With the Black Lives Matter movement being so prevalent in the last few months, and countless players speaking out and protesting, the NBA followed their lead and took action as well by coming out in support of the players and the movement itself. To show its support, it has put “Black Lives Matter” decals on all of the courts, as well as having the players choose words or sayings that relate to the movement to be written on the back of their jerseys.

On another note, some former Villanovans are among the players competing in the bubble. Four out of the eight Villanova alumni currently in the NBA traveled to the bubble to compete. These four include Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns, Donte DiVincenzo of the Milwaukee Bucks, Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, and Josh

Hart of the New Orleans Pelicans.

DiVincenzo and Lowry are still playing in the playoffs, and both of their teams will look to compete for a championship, a possible back-toback opportunity for Lowry and the Raptors, who won the 2019 Finals.

The NBA has already discussed the possibility of needing to play the entirety of next season in a bubble format, a decision that would affect another future professional Wildcat. Saddiq Bey, who would have been entering his junior season at the University, is projected to be a first round draft pick in October. There were scouts from many different teams at Villanova’s games last season, including some from the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia Sixers. The draft lottery was this past Thursday, and mock-draft projections are just starting to be released, with some saying Bey could be drafted around the sixteenth or seventeenth pick to the Trailblazers or Grizzlies, and others

projecting he may go as early as the eleventh pick to the Spurs. Bey had an outstanding season last year, and the Villanova community is excited to witness the success that he has at the next level.

When the sports world came to a halt in March, no one knew what it was going to look like. Many feared that seasons would be cancelled, but thanks to the planning by league officials and the research of medical professionals, most leagues have been able to figure out a way to safely continue play.

The NBA bubble format, similar to that of the WNBA and NHL, has proven to be the most effective, given that it has no positive cases.

The players have been following all necessary guidelines and holding each other accountable, while other leagues like the MLB have been struggling to keep players and staff safe. No one knows what the next few months will hold, but for now, fans are happy to have sports back.

Courtesty of ESPN

Men’s Basketball Adds to Its 2021 Recruting Class Billy Vinci Co-Sports Editor

Villanova added two new guards to its 2021 recruiting class when guard Jordan Longino and Andrew Brazzi announced their decision to commit to the Wildcats over schools such as Indiana, Florida, Maryland, Arizona, California and others.

Longino is ranked 96th in 247Sports Composite Rankings and is ranked 21st in the country among shooting guards.

While Brizzi is ranked 118th in 247Sports Composite Rankings and is ranked as the No. 20 guard in the nation.

Longino is a 4-star prospect from Fort Washington, Pa. and is heading into his senior season at nearby Germantown Academy, only 12 miles from Villanova’s campus. The Pennsylvania native is listed at 6-5 and 170 pounds, though it is likely he’s filled out his frame some over the past few months.

Longino gave his reasoning behind the commitment to Jake Weingarten of Stockrisers. com, saying, “I just felt ‘Nova fit me the best on and off the court. ‘Nova has been recruiting me since I was a sophomore, so I have developed a strong relationship with every coach on their staff.”

On the court, Longino’s best skill is his shot. He knocked

down over 40% of his shots from three-point range in his junior season and is almost automatic from the free-throw line. He’s more of a shooting guard than a point guard, but he has a decent passing ability and should be able to spend some time as the primary initiator, if necessary.

Longino is added to a class that already includes two 4-stars, in Trey Patterson and Nnanna Njoku. The addition of Longino moves the Wildcats to No. 3 in the 2021 class rankings, per 247Sports, behind only Ohio State and Baylor, but that was before the addition of Brizzi.

Brizzi is a 3-star prospect is from Warrenton, Va. and attends Highland High School.

Listed at 6-3 and 170 pounds, Brizzi has solid height for a lead guard, but he will likely need to put on some muscle to excel in a college basketball season.

Brizzi told Travis Branham of 247Sports why he chose the Wildcats: “They have had recent success with developing players and winning as a program. They especially develop point guards.”

During his junior season in 2019-20, Brizzi averaged 20.3 points, 6.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game. The Virginia native is also a plus shooter from distance, a good passer and will likely spend his time at Villanova initiating the offense.

The addition of Brizzi and Longino moves the Wild-

cats’ class to No. 2 in the country according to 247Sports’ Class Rankings. There is still a long way to go for the class of 2021, but Villanova should finish the recruiting cycle in the top 10 best classes. Jay Wright had hoped to add 6-1 Rahsool Diggins to his roster, but Diggins committed to fellow Big East competitor UConn.

With the senior class of Collin Gillespie, Dhamir Cosby-Roundtree and Jermaine Samuels set to depart and Saddiq Bey departing to the NBA Draft, there will be plenty of roster spots available for the 2021 class. The Wildcats will look to close out the 2021 class with a splash by potentially adding 6-4 5-star guard Trevor Keels.

Jordan Longino Courtesty of 247Sports.com

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DINING SERVICES

Villanova Dining Services New Location for Fall 2020!

2.0 Visit the Belle Air Terrace 2.0 in The Connelly Center (formally the Villanova Room).

Open for Lunch and Dinner serving hot entrees and your Grab & Go favorites!