WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 3, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 112 | ISSUE 1
K e l l y ’ s University Experiences Covid Spike Taproom During First Week Back on Campus Re o p e n s Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor
This past week, the moment many have waited for came to fruition. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Kelly’s Taproom posted an Instagram photo that ignited the anticipatory faction of the establishment’s patrons. The photo announced a victorious statement, “We Are Back!” Due to the pandemic, Kelly’s, like many other small businesses, had to close its doors. However, in the following months, as many similar restaurants opened their doors, Kelly’s continued to stay closed. In a previous interview with The Villanovan, owner and 1989 Vilanova graduate, Gene Mitchell gave the reasoning for the continued closure. He shared that the restaurant valued safety, was under much scrutiny from the township and needed more time to formulate a plan of action before it could re-open. To the disappointment of University students and community members alike, the Kelly’s owner had given no hope for re-opening in the fall semester. He did, however, leave readers with the certainty that the doors of the taproom would open before the University’s senior class graduated. This Thursday, that enigmatic future date came to light, as University students and more, for the first time in almost a year, stepped foot into the establishment. Mitchell shared his feelings about the day. “Really, it has been a great experience,” Mitchell said. “Of course we were nervous and wanted to make sure all the protocols were being followed and at the end of the first week, I can tell you every person that came in was respectful of the rules that need to be in place to ensure a safe environment.” Mitchell has always had safety at the core of the establishment, a fact that has been prevalent upon the re-opening. Like many restaurants in today’s climate, masks must be worn inside at any time one is not seated at Continued on p. 9
Alumnus McGuinn Donates $10M to the University p. 3 Vibe Check with The Villanovan p. 9
Thousands of students return to Villanova’s campus amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic for the Spring 2021 semester. Courtesy of Villanova University
Cate McCusker Co-Editor-in-Chief After having students back on campus for only a few days, the University has already experienced its first major spike in cases this semester. On Saturday morning, the University campus dashboard reported 31 new cases from Friday. The following day, the cases more than doubled, with 66 new cases reported from Saturday. The numbers have remained high, 64 new cases on Sunday and 62 new cases on Monday. Students received an email from Rev. John P. Stack, OSA, Vice President for Student Life, on Sunday morning, warning students about the increase in cases. “This weekend
the COVID-19 dashboard numbers are higher than we have previously experienced. Although we have the resources to manage the current situation, these numbers are not sustainable,” Stack said in the email. “If this trend continues, Father Peter will have no option but to end the semester on campus. We must immediately act in ways that will bring our numbers down and we must do this together.” On Tuesday evening Stack again emailed the student body, reiterating his warning. “We need to alter our course immediately to ensure that we will not need to disrupt the semester,” Stack said. “One week into this spring semester we have more than 50% of the total number of positive cases we had in
the entire fall semester. These numbers are not sustainable.” The Villanovan was able to speak with Kathy Byrnes, Associate Vice President for Student Life, on Saturday evening to learn more about the increase in cases. Byrnes confirmed that there was not one single event that led to the spike, but most of the positives have been coming from off campus social activities. “A lot of the cases are from on campus students, but those on campus students have gone to larger off campus gatherings” Byrnes said. As of right now, the events run by the Community First Committee, such as the fire pits and food trucks, are still scheduled for next weekend. “The outdoor activ-
travel. Typically, the women’s volleyball team would have 18 Big East games, as well as at least 10 non-conference games, but due to the re-structured conference play and the restrictions, they will only be able to play a total of 14 games and are limited to eight within the Big East. After Georgetown opted out of this season, the Big East split the remaining 10 teams into two divisions, the East and the Midwest.
Continued on p. 15
ities are a lot healthier than indoor activities,” Byrnes said, explaining that last semester they did not see cases coming out of these types of events. “It’s under constant review, but at this moment we are not cancelling those on campus outdoor events.” Two large events that have been affected include the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils Recruitment processes that were scheduled to take place this month. On Monday night, members of the Greek life community received an email about the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life’s decision to postpone recruitment. “We recognize that even a fully virtual process lends itself to opportunities for members and potential Continued on p. 2
Big East Coaches Poll Selects Volleyball to Finish Second in Preseason Standings Meghann Morhardt
Staff Writer
After not being able to have a fall season due to COVID-19, the Villanova women’s volleyball team is ready and eager to get back to competition this spring. The Big East decided to postpone all fall sports and instead have the teams compete in a modified season during the spring semester, with fewer games and less
Interview with Dean Tumolo About the Spring Semester p. 3 Back to School Predictions: Second Semester Horoscopes p. 11
Robinhood Betrayed Users Over Gamestop Trading p. 5 Villasnowva: Students Enjoy First Snow Days of the Year p. 13
Sophia Howling, redshirt junior, spikes the ball. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
A Letter from the Editors: We Must Act Now p. 7
Lack of COVID-19 Communication from the Administration p. 8
The University’s COVID Solution: The Campus Cozy p. 13
Men’s Lacrosse Ranked 19th in Preseason Poll p. 15
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PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER
VOL. 112 | ISS. 1 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, February 3, 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
Public Drunkenness / Liquor Underage January 24 Sullivan Hall A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated and transported to the hospital by Radnor ALS for a head injury and alcohol intoxication.
Public Drunkenness / Liquor Underage January 26 McGuire Hall A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated and transported by to Bryn Mawr Hospital for alcohol intoxication.
Liquor Underage January 24 Stanford Hall A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication.
Liquor Underage January 28 Cupola Hall Four male and two female resident students, under the age of 21, were evaluated for alcohol intoxication by Public Safety.
Paraphernalia / Possession January 25 Alumni Hall A male resident student was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Changing the Narrative: A Panel Discussion of Young Adults on Anti-racism February 6 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Virtual Women’s Basketball versus Creighton February 6 2:00 p.m. Away at the D. J. Sokol Arena
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.
262 850,488 26,160,210 104,393,058 Villanova University
United States
Men’s Basketball versus Xavier February 7 2:30 p.m. Home at the Pavilion
Men’s Basketball versus DePaul February 9 9:00 p.m. Home at the Pavilion
The Bible and Black Lives Matter February 7 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Virtual
Women’s Basketball versus Xavier February 10 7:00 p.m. Home at the Pavilion
Mindfulness Mondays Meditation February 8 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Virtual
2021 Literary Festival Event: Brenda Shaughnessy February 11 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Virtual
Women’s Basketball versus Providence February 8 1:00 p.m. Away at the Alumni Hall
Continued from p. 1 new members alike to be tempted to connect in person, and we are making this decision to mitigate the potential risks involved” the email said. “In the meanwhile, it’s imperative for all members of the Fraternity and Sorority community to adhere to COVID safety measures at all times.” Recruitment is now scheduled for March, but it will still depend on the health and safety of the community at the time. It is also important to note that there is no set threshold of cases that will lead to the closure of campus. Byrnes explained that it is all dependent on what resources are available. There are currently 146 beds in use, 33.95% of what Villanova has available, according to the campus dashboard. Students who live within 300 miles of campus are sent home if they test positive or are contact traced. “We still have a lot of resources, but our numbers are high and it’s likely they will be high for the next few days,” Byrnes said. “We have to stop this now. If we have a week of this, I don’t know if we will survive this.” Although the spike looks intimidating, and many students are fearing the potential closure of campus, Byrnes is hopeful that Villanova students can follow the Caritas Commitment to get us back on track. “I saw last semester that when the numbers went up, it got people’s attention and then it stopped,” Byrnes said. “It’s really important for everyone to wear their masks all the time. Put those prevention practices into place as diligently as you ever have, every day, starting this instant. That’s what will help us turn this around.”
CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES AS OF 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Pennsylvania
CAMPUS CALENDAR MLK Keynote Address: Charles H. Mcllwain February 3 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Virtual
COVID-19 TRACKER
Women’s Volleyball versus La Salle February 11 TBD Home at Jake Nevin
Worldwide
Courtesy of Villanova University
Number of Tests and Confirmed Positive Cases by Day at Villanova
University Declared Vaccination Site Jackie Thomas Staff Writer The University has announced that both the state of Pennsylvania and the more local Delaware County have declared Villanova a COVID-19 vaccination site, meaning that the University will be able to receive and administer vaccines once the college campus community is qualified to receive them. Rev. John P. Stack, Vice President for Student Life, sent out an email on Dec. 22, alerting the community of the news. “Villanova has been identified by the county and state as a vaccination site, which means Villanova will receive vaccines when they become available for our population,” Stack wrote. “It is too soon to know a timetable for when vaccines will be available for our campus community.” University administrators have posted this single paragraph on different platforms alerting Villanovans of the news. Platforms with the news include the Student Health Center website and the Student Life website. As of now, University administrators do not know any further details. When pressed for more information, Mary E. McGonigle, Director of the Villanova University Health Center, wrote about the uncertainty of the situation. “We are in constant con-
tact with local and state health departments about the distribution of vaccines for our community,” McGonigle said. “Unfortunately, Villanova has not been given a timeline as to when we might receive vaccines, or how many vaccines we will get.” Associate Vice President for Student Life at Villanova, Kathleen Brynes, added similar information. “We are in constant contact with the Chester County Department of Health, the Delaware County Medical Countermeasures program, and the Pennsylvania Department of Health regarding the distribution of vaccines to our region,” Brynes said. While the vaccine remains unavailable for many members of the Villanovan community, some Villanova students may be eligible to receive the vaccine off-campus. As the federal government continues to distribute the vaccine to states, state governments determine the manner of distribution. Kylie Barton, a sophomore nursing student from Montgomery County, PA, received the COVID-19 vaccine prior to coming to campus. “My mom is a healthcare worker, and she found out that as a student nurse, I was also eligible to receive the vaccine in the 1A distribution stage in my county,” Barton said. “All I had to do was inform the vaccination site of some basic
information including the name of my position and place of employment. Since I’m a student, I listed the Villanova School of Nursing as my place of employment and received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created a phased allocation of vaccines for COVID-19. This is recommended for states to use but is not required. According to the Delaware County, Pennsylvania official website, phase 1A of the vaccination rollout is still in place. The start date for phase 1B will depend on the number of vaccines that the federal government sends.
Nurse administring a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Courtesy of Getty Images
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
The Villanovan | 3
NEWS
Almnus McGuinn Donates $10 Million to University Sophia Pedro Staff Writer
Class of 1964 graduate and Juris Doctorate recipient from the Charles Widger School of Law, Martin G. McGuinn, Esq., has recently donated $10 million to the University. McGuinn has been an active and generous alumnus since graduating from the Liberal Arts and Sciences College. He has now given a total of $15.7 million in donations. After receiving his law degree at the University, McGuinn began his career as an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell. He then moved on to a managing counsel position at The Singer Company. Eventually, he became the chairman and CEO of Mellon Financial Corporation, which is now known as BNY Mellon. The recent donor was with Mellon for 25 years and served on numerous advisory boards, including The National Infrastructure Advisory Council, where he was appointed by President Bush. In accordance with McGuinn’s wishes, $7 million of his grant will be used for the advancement of faculty research, which is a major component of the University’s 10-year Strategic Plan headed by University President
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. In addition, $2 million of the $7 million will specifically go to support the faculty of the Charles Widger School of Law. These grants will aim to recognize Villanova Law faculty whose research and work has had a significant impact on the academy, the law, the legal profession and/or policy. “Villanova is thriving now under the leadership of Father Peter, and my gift is intended to support him and the new Strategic Plan, which I am convinced will take Villanova—and the Law School—to new heights,” McGuinn said about the potential of his gift. The remaining $3 million of the gift will be allotted to help veterans earn or complete their degrees. Scholarship programs, specifically the Yellow Ribbon Program, will receive increased funding to attract more veteran students to the University. These types of scholarships cover the entirety of student veterans’ tuition and fees. The donation will also work to grow the University’s Office of Veterans and Military Service Members and the programming and resources the office provides. The University has worked for the past few decades to receive VA educational benefits
for veterans and their dependents. McGuinn’s gift will be a major step in accomplishing this. Prior to his careers in law and financial services, McGuinn served as a captain in the US Marine Corps for three years. His military service background likely explains the veteran’s generous commitment to a critical area of need at the University. The generous gift will act as an aid for individuals that McGuinn shares a connection with due to this military background. McGuinn’s continued commitment to the future of this University exemplifies not only the power of the University’s alumni network, but also the common, lifelong connection Villanova alumni have to their alma mater. “Marty supports areas of the University that he feels passionately about, and, in doing so, he has helped elevate Villanova’s stature and recognition,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. said. “On behalf of the entire Villanova community, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Marty for his continued generosity and commitment to the University.” To further express his gratitude for McGuinn’s generosity, Father Peter and the University
Alumus and Donor Martin G. McGuinn of the University’s Class of 1964. Courtesy of Villanova University
have opted to name one of the newly built residence halls in The Commons, McGuinn Hall. The alumnus’s legacy of giving will be recognized at the University for years to come. “The seven years I spent at Villanova, including receiving a first-rate education and making friends for life, have had a major impact on me,” McGuinn said, speaking of the major motivations for his continued generosity as an alumnus. This $10 million gift from McGuinn will continue to support, strengthen and serve the University community well beyond 2021 and help to further not only the 10-year Plan, but also the longevity of the first-rate education the University is able to provide to future students.
Interview with Dean Tumolo Students Share Thoughts About the Spring Semester on Returning To Campus Julia Butch Staff Writer Spring Semester has officially commenced, but COVID-19 regulations remain largely unchanged. The University’s administration is hoping to foster continued momentum and build on the first semester, or as Assistant Dean of Students Nicholas Tumolo puts it, “New Semester, Same Playbook!” That said, there have been some changes made. For one, the University will expand surveillance testing. Specific numbers, however, are not disclosed. Surveillance testing is randomized, and students are required to take part when selected. If a student is chosen to partake in the program, he or she will receive an email to schedule a COVID-19 test within the week. There is also a new way for students to voice concerns digitally, which is a direct result of the feedback from the end-of-semester survey students took in November. Tumolo says students wanted more “awareness and clarification of guidelines and opportunities to share concerns.” So, the University created a new reporting system (www1.villanova.edu/university/ return-to-campus/commitment/reporting.html). All students are able to submit any concerns they have of fellow students not following the CARITAS guidelines. “Frankly, it centralizes a lot of the different options to share concerns that have already existed,” Tumolo said. While Tumolo appreciates the desire for anonymity, he says that it is often more difficult to ad-
dress the problem when the source cannot be reached. That being said, there is an option to submit anonymously. He is confident with the procedures in place and stated that the success of last semester was fairly obvious. The University is even trying to facilitate varsity sports in the spring. This will include robust testing and protocols for athletes. Tumolo says the University was not overwhelmed by the hundreds of cases, quarantines and isolations that took place during the Fall semester. “We obviously planned to have cases on campus last semester,” he said. “We had plans and processes and resources in place for all of that. So, what happened is exactly what we planned for.” Many students are wondering if we’ll make it through the Spring semester. “If everyone does what they’re supposed to do, and things go well, we can manage it,” the Dean said. However, he says that there is still a “finite amount of resources and capacity.” This statement came just before the recent spike on campus and a related communication from University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. reiterating the need to follow established guidelines. When asked about a threshold of cases that would necessitate shutdown, Tumolo said there is still no finite number. “There are so many factors that determine that,” he said. While the campus community and administration remain hopeful, there are simply no guarantees.
Katie Reed Staff Writer After enjoying an extended hiatus from classes during the winter, Villanovans have finally returned to campus, ready to begin the spring semester. Classes resumed on Monday, Jan. 25, though most students settled in the weekend prior. Although there are some changes on campus, such as heated tents to allow for outdoor, socially-distanced seating and the addition of Campus Cozies, all of the previous rules and requirements about wearing a mask, staying six feet apart and overall behaving hygienically are still in place. Students are still abiding by the CARITAS Commitment and putting community first. All Villanovans are adjusting to this return to campus differently, with everyone having an assortment of online classes, in-person classes and living situations. Amanda Rappa, President of the Student Government Association, is beginning her last semester at the University as a senior. “It is my second semester of my senior year, so I am honestly just happy to be given the opportunity to be on campus and enjoy this time with my friends before we all go our separate ways,” Rappa said. “I think Villanova has given us a unique opportunity to let us have a bit of normalcy and that is something I really appreciate.” Although she is excited to be back on campus, she understands the responsibility that students have to keep themselves and others safe during the pandemic. “I know we have the capacity and ability to make this work, but we really have to look back on what worked last semester to do it,” she said. “It is easy to come back more comfortable and confident, which is totally normal, but our mindset last semester was very
different. We were doing our best to be safe and cautious because people doubted we were going to last the full semester. Now, it seems more like we expect to stay on campus.” Students and faculty need to keep the same mentality from last semester in order to ensure this semester is a success, and Rappa encourages everyone to try to live in the moment. She advised everyone enjoy the normalcy that the University has provided, while also keeping in mind the consequences of our actions. She stresses the importance of taking mental health breaks, especially during such an unusual academic year. Megan Lapchak, a sophomore, is returning to campus for the first time this academic year, since last semester she was fully remote with all of her classes and was living at home. Now, she finally has the opportunity to be on campus. “Although I was a bit hesitant and weary about the situation at first, I am excited to be back on campus,” Lapchak said. “ It allows me to interact with my classes in a more effective manner and I can see my closest friends who have supported me through this transition.” Although she enjoyed being in the safety of her home with family, Lapchak expressed that the transition was difficult coming back to campus. She is happy to be back and feels like she never left, which speaks to the community at the University. “I am most excited for the memories I will make this semester,” she said. “I am also excited to finally feel a slight sense of normalcy in the fact that I will be attending classes, even if it is only two of them.” Although Rappa, Lapchak, and other students’ experiences in returning to campus for the spring semester all look different, everyone is back and ready to make the most of the time spent on campus, while also remaining diligent in the efforts to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
4 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
NEWS
President Biden Issues Executive Orders from Oval Office Lydia McFarlane Staff Writer In the first few days of Joe Biden’s presidency, he has been busy signing off on executive orders in the Oval Office. An executive order is one that a president can push through, enacting policy change without the approval of Congress. The new president’s executive orders are focused on areas of American policy that have been the subject of heated debates. “I was very pleased to see how many of Biden’s executive orders are focused around helping the dire issues which have plagued Americans and been ignored by the last administration,” said Kylie Horan, a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Many of these areas are ones that Biden’s predecessor, former President Donald Trump, brought into focus. Some look at the flurry of activity from Biden’s Oval Office as a final goodbye to the Trump presidency. Several of Biden’s executive orders repeal or replace his predecessor’s most damaging policies with his own, such as rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change, which Trump removed the United States from, and signing off on another order that will pull funds from the construction of Trump’s big project and part of his 2016 campaign platform: the border wall. With the rejoining of the Paris Agreement, the environment and climate are obviously huge focus areas for Biden. Some University students are most excited for Biden’s environmental consciousness, such as Horan and Thomas Dessoye, a
freshman in the College of Liberal Arts of Science. “I am most excited about Executive Order 13990 of January 20, 2021: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,” Horan said. “Biden is prioritizing ethical, equitable treatment of all American citizens and prioritizing our planet so we can continue to have a world to improve.” “President Biden’s executive order to have the US recommit to the Paris Climate Accord is incredibly important… This return to economic and environmental prosperity guarantees hope of a better tomorrow,” Dessoye said. However, some students worry about Biden’s environmental and tax plans and their effects on the economy. “Not only will the increased taxes harm Americans, but rising oil prices will lead to families paying more at the gas and grocery store because costs will rise for businesses in every industry,” said Max Sallee, a freshman in the School of Business After racial tensions flared throughout the Trump presidency, especially over this summer, one of Biden’s big areas of focus with his 30 plus executive orders is racial equity. While the United States is still gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, Biden has already done what top doctors were begging Trump to do for months: enforce a national mask mandate on federal property and coordinate a government-wide COVID-19 response plan. Many see Biden’s flurry of executive orders as a good thing and believe this shows his integrity and honesty, as many of them are consistent with his cam-
Former President peachement Trial
paign promises. This has allowed Americans to see that Biden is a man of his word and indicates that he will make good on the campaign promises that propelled him to victory and allowed him to become the forty-sixth president of the United States. “Most Americans view politicians as incredulous due to their false promises and superficiality, but so far, within the first days, the President has kept his promises,” Dessoye said. However, others are not swayed by Biden making good on his promises. Some people are worried that the bout of executive orders Biden has been putting out will create a rift between him and his Congress, as executive orders bypass the President’s need for Congressional approval. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have slight Democratic majorities, with the Senate being an even fifty Democrats to fifty Republicans, and the house
majority a little more comfortable, with 222 Democrats and 211 Republicans. President Biden will need the support of Congress on his side in order to have a fruitful presidency. “His flurry of executive orders probably will not create much of a rift… because the Democrats control the legislative branch, and the orders signed by him are all party policy anyway,” Sallee said. On the other hand, Dessoye said, “Despite supporting Biden’s executive orders on US policy, I believe that some form of a rift will be produced if Congress isn’t allowed to have a say in any of these paramount decisions.” Regardless of the different interpretations of Biden’s enactment of his executive power, President Biden is definitely starting off his presidency determined and with gusto, and he has over thirty executive orders from within his first few days as President to show for it.
Donald Trump’s ImMoves to the Senate
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Republicans moved to end the trial before it began, with After voting on Jan. 13, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky the House of Representatives bringing a procedural objection to delivered the sole article of Imthe Constitutionality of the trial. peachment to the Senate on Jan. Paul claimed that since the powers 25, marking the beginning of of Impeachment were intended to the second formal trial of former remove an elected official from ofPresident Donald Trump. Senators fice, they should not continue the were sworn in as jurors by Demprocess because Trump no longer ocrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont, serves as President. Democrats the most senior member of the rejected that claim, pointing to the caucus in the Senate. Chief Jus1876 impeachment of a Secretary tice John Roberts, who presided of War who had resigned before over then-President Trump’s first the trial and a number of ConImpeachment trial, is not serving stitutional law scholars who have the same role this time around due defended the process despite the to the transition into President Joe accused no longer holding office. Biden’s administration. The vote split largely along Trump is being charged party lines, with only five Repubwith “high crimes and misdemean- licans, (Lisa Murkowski of Alasors” for his alleged role in sparking ka, Susan Collins of Maine, Ben the insurrection that occurred at Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey the Capitol on Jan. 6 while memof Pennsylvania and Mitt Romney bers of Congress were voting to of Utah), expected to vote against confirm Biden’s election victory, Trump. Since the vote to convict as well as sowing distrust in the requires a two-thirds majority in general election process for weeks the Senate, 17 Republicans would both before and after Election have to go against the general Day. According to the Constituopinion of their colleagues and tion, “The President, Vice PresiTrump’s still-devoted supporters. dent and all Civil Officers of the The former President has promUnited States, shall be removed ised to “primary the hell out of ” from Office for Impeachment those in his party who would not for, and Conviction of, Treason, Jack Matthews Staff Writer
President Joe Biden signing executive orders on his first day in office. Courtesy of AP Photo
defend him. His son Eric Trump told Fox News that any Republican senator or any Congressperson who chose not to fight would have their political career ended. Senator Paul pointed to the results as proof that there are not enough votes amongst Republicans to convict the former President, and that “we’re basically wasting our time.” Amongst those who agreed with the notion that the trial is unconstitutional was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the senior Senator from Kentucky who had previously placed blame for the riots at the feet of Trump. “The mob was fed lies,” McConnell said. “They were provoked by the President and other powerful people.” He has implied that he may be open to vote for conviction, though at this point he has not made an announcement regarding his final decision on the matter. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and McConnell agreed to delay the beginning of the official trial by two weeks to Feb. 9, rather than directly after the delivery of the Articles of Impeachment. This works in favor of both sides of the aisle because President Biden still
has cabinet positions and other nominations that need Senate confirmation, and Republicans have stated that once the trial starts there will be no votes on confirmations. Therefore, the two weeks allow Biden’s administration time to get important members confirmed. The pause also gives Trump time to assemble his legal team and begin crafting a plan as to how they will go about their defense. Just this past Sunday, however, Trump parted with his two lead Impeachment lawyers, with one person involved in the situation stating that it was a “mutual decision.” If the Senate does vote to convict, a simple majority vote on a separate measure could bar Trump from ever running for office again, a vote that would be far easier for Democrats who hold a razor thin 51-50 majority, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tiebreaker. Regardless of the former or latter votes, Trump will still receive much of the benefits of being a former President, including his pension. On top of this, it is likely that Trump will continue to be a force in the Republican Party, regardless of the results of the trial.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
OPINION
The Villanovan | 5
OPINION
Robinhood Betrayed Users Over GameStop Trading Andrew Portas Staff Writer I first joined Robinhood about a year ago, lured by the prospect of commission-free trading and a free share of complimentary stock. It became a secure and simple introduction to the challenging and daunting stock market for amateur investors, like myself. Robinhood and its competitors, like WeBull and TDAmeritrade, granted a unique opportunity for users to interact and contribute to the free market regardless of socio-economic status. That is why last week’s decision to halt orders of GameStop ($GME), AMC ($AMC) and countless other stocks was nothing short of betrayal to the company’s customers and values. Much like the similarly named fictional character, “Robinhood’s mission is to democratize finance for all,” believing “that everyone should have access to the financial markets.” However, when Reddit users collaborated en masse to drive up the price of $GME and hinder multi-billion hedge funds from short-selling the stock, Robinhood chose to appease the hedge funds. Users could not execute trades on the stock, inevitably driving down the price and diminishing the massive losses already taken by hedge funds like the Chicago-based Citadel Securities.
Robinhood halted orders of GameStop stock after hedge-funds began to lose money. Courtesy of Getty Images
Many of Robinhood’s competitors took similar action, citing pressure from clearing houses (third party companies that streamline the trading process for many commission-free, mobile trading applications) to immediately halt trades on specific stocks. Clearing houses, like Apex Clearing, did this, claiming they were unable to handle the exponentiated costs of clearing from the recent market fiasco. However, Robinhood itself
does not use an external clearing house, and instead relies upon inhouse services and technology. The company thus reserves complete control over its ability to process and offer market securities, rendering them solely responsible for any actions taken. Additionally, much of Robinhood’s revenue flows from “market-maker” investment firms who offer millions to access real-time information of the app’s transac-
tions. What is so infuriating is the fact these firms include the very hedge funds who sought to benefit from trading limitations, like Citadel Securities. Whether or not coercion was Robinhood’s reason for acting as it did, its recent decisions plainly show that the company values its relationship with big Wall Street firms over its broad, dedicated user base. Despite a few politicians from both ends of the political spectrum condemning Robinhood’s actions, including Josh Hawley (RMO) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), most major figures and publications have remained silent on the topic; some even voiced contempt towards small investors. Ironically, the world’s wealthiest person, Elon Musk, has been perhaps the most vocal critic of recent practices. “Here come the shorty apologists Give them no respect Get Shorty,” Musk tweeted. Robinhood betrayed its own mission statement, our nation’s integral free-market principles and most of all, its users. The message is clear: small, amateur investors are no longer welcome when they pose a threat to the billionaire class’s insatiable endeavor to accumulate wealth. Robinhood has already had multiple class-action lawsuits filed against them. People are rightfully angry at this is utterly obvious attack on their economic freedom.
Spike in COVID-19 Cases Threatens Future on Campus
toward COVID-19 at this point in time. Either stricter regulations by staff need to be implemented, or the student body needs to wake From anti-maskers to up and not take the privilege of college partygoers, a large numstaying on campus for granted. ber of Americans, no matter how One substantial factor to young or old, have started to care blame for this could be the Uniless about COVID-19. This is versity’s procedure for pre-arrival apparent with the spike in cases testing. Putting the responsibility around the country during the on students to quarantine before holiday season. COVID-19 peakreturning to campus is the wrong ed in the United States on Jan. 8, way of going about COVID-19, with about 300,000 new cases as especially because many are per the New York Times. Our own unknowingly asymptomatic when campus saw a similar trend with its infected. biggest coronavirus spike happen- The pre-arrival system goes ing during Halloween weekend, as follows: on Jan. 6, an entire causing many on-campus activities two and a half weeks before the to shift online for the remaining semester began, students were weeks of the semester. With this instructed to order the testing kits, new COVID-19 menace, what self-test and send it back with the threat will it pose to campus life? return label contained in the box, According to the Uniall before Jan. 15. As many have versity’s COVID-19 dashboard, probably thought, there are a few things already seem particularly things wrong with this. grim. As of Feb. 2, there are 244 For one, the responsibility active cases on campus, holding of self-testing can be futile, since 34% of the on-campus quarantine most people probably do not know capacity. Comparably, the first if they correctly administered the case of an infected student last test. It would have been better semester did not appear until Aug. for students to get tested by pro25, eight days after the semester fessionals on campus, or to have began, with only one case for that required official hospital testing day. The school did not hit 130 and documentation before reachtotal cases until early October, ing the school. Secondly, at a time an entire month and a half into where COVID-19 is at an all-time the term. To me, this change in high and the general attitude student behavior is unacceptable towards the virus is not as serious, and shows the complete disregard it is irresponsible to just ask people and lax nature many people share to quarantine for two weeks. Many Derek Ramirez Jerez Staff Writer
people did not follow this, and it could be a reason why 136 out of the 412 (about 33%) administered tests so far have been positive. Another quick fix would be to mandate a quarantine on campus for students before classes start, with multiple testing opportunities, to completely ensure no one has COVID-19 to spread around to others. Despite everything in this regard, campus life seems to be running normally. People are reaping the benefits of knowing the class format before registering. From my experience, in-person classes are properly socially distanced and seemingly clean. The only problem I see is in dining areas, as many people do not follow the University’s policies and social distancing guidelines. People take eating as an excuse to go against the school’s efforts to create a safe environment. I get that it is uncomfortable to eat with a mask on, but students should at least sit in the designated areas instead of moving seats or sitting in places not intended for eating. This would go a long way to lessen the rising number of cases. One good thing to come from this is that the University has identified the issue and notified students on the severity of this sharp increase in cases. I agree that the current case spike is unsustainable; hopefully the email serves as a way to get students to
check the dashboard regularly, along with hopefully practicing the safety policies in better ways. However, the brevity of the message does say something about the communication with staff and the student body. More information should be provided, such as if the COVID-19 spike is happening in designated areas, how many active cases would we need to have until the school shuts down, or any restrictions that could be implemented on campus life as a result. The latter two would be the most important, as it would probably allow the student body to fully grasp the severity of the situation we face right now. Overall, COVID-19 is more prominent right now on campus than ever compared to any single day last semester. If the spread of the virus remains on the trajectory it is on as of the first week, we will not remain on campus for the entire semester. Hopefully in the future, the staff responsible for handling pre-arrival testing will employ better and more controllable measures to contain the virus among students. But for now, the best thing for us to do is to more closely follow guidelines the University has set for us. It is in our hands whether or not we stay on campus, so act responsibly. Take COVID-19 seriously, or our desire to have a normal college experience will keep getting further away from ideal.
6 | The Villanovan
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
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
OPINION
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.
President Biden’s Call for Unity at Inauguration Ceremony Joe Adams Staff Writer A few weeks ago, President Joe Biden gave his inaugural address to the nation, and one message was clear: he was calling for unity throughout the United States. Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican or Independent voter, we all know that right now, our country is at an extraordinary point of polarization and constant disagreement. Some conflict is okay, and sometimes may even be beneficial, but what is happening right now is dangerous to our country’s future. Former President Donald Trump’s time in office deeply divided us. We were not a unified country, but rather a mix of red states and blue states. Some of us refused to speak to our neighbors, our friends and even our families due to the way we voted. Many of us argued, angry with the way things were going. On top of that, an unprecedented pandemic hit, and we became even more anxious and frustrated with the country as we debated how to handle the health crisis and reopen safely. Despite all of this turmoil,
Biden stood by his call for unity throughout the entirety of the presidential primaries and during the debates, until he was elected in November. Back in the fall, I thought this was a waste of time. Why try to unify a nation that has no chance of coming together? Why would we try to work with the other side when we had deep, fundamental differences of opinions that weren’t changing anytime soon? Looking back, I myself was completely caught up in the election madness, and I regret thinking that unity was too ambitious a goal. Of course now, months after Biden’s win, I have slowly warmed up to the idea of unity. I’ve heard it repeated time and time again, and although it may be difficult to achieve, I do believe that it is the only way that this country will begin to heal. Sure, not everyone will completely agree on certain policies or decisions that President Biden will make over the next four years. But at the very least, it is important to acknowledge that Biden is, and always has been, running on the idea of love and acceptance, a stark contrast from the previous administration. That’s exactly what we need.
Joe Biden sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Courtesy of Getty Images
To regroup and grow as a nation, we must love, accept and care for one another. It really is that simple. Having a President in office who listens to and respects the people is the key to unity. Will this message of unity prevail? Ultimately, I think it will. Something that I’ve learned, especially being in college now and meet-
ing so many new people, is that we all hold distinct opinions. We have to be okay with talking to those who do not agree with us on political issues. In fact, we should remain open to learning from those we disagree with. These candid conversations, along with acceptance of different opinions, can and will lead us out of this dark time in our nation’s history.
Major Memorandum for Women’s Healthcare Rights
rights. I don’t believe that abortion belongs anywhere near legislation. Abortion should not be a major point on any politician’s agenda because On his eighth day in office, it is a between a woman, her doctor President Joe Biden signed a memand whatever being she chooses to orandum that effectively reversed believe in. The entanglement regardFormer President Donald Trump’s ing discussion of abortion and biblical 2017 memorandum further restrictlaws disregards a distinct separation ing abortion access. The presidential of Church and State. memorandum will expand women’s President Biden is a devout access to reproductive healthcare both Catholic who remains a loyal memdomestically and abroad. The now ber of the Church and has used his repealed memorandum made governreligion as a guidepost throughout ment funding for health organizations his career, without letting his personworldwide from the US contingent al religious beliefs infiltrate into his on these organizations agreeing not to legislative rulings. Harpers Bazaar promote or perform abortions. reports that while Biden stated in his Throughout Trump’s tenure book “Promises to Keep” that he is in office, he repeatedly promoted “personally opposed to abortion,” he ideology and legislation aimed at redoes not believe it is his right to force stricting women’s access to abortion, his views upon the rest of society. thus depriving them of their reproHe publicly spread the message that, ductive rights. According to CNN, the “Reproductive rights are constituPresident Biden signing executive orders in the Oval Office. Trump administration had taken an tional rights, [and] every woman Courtesy of Getty Images “unprecedented” number of restricshould have that right.” This goes to tions on abortion. He continually Biden administration’s quick action a federally funded program, known show that it is possible to have private made baseless and false claims about towards giving women reproductive as Title X, which allows low-income and personal opinions, but still agree abortion during late term pregnancy, autonomy is a stark contrast from the individuals to receive competent acthat women should have the right to a rhetorical strategy that was subseprevious administration’s low tolercess to information regarding family decide what happens to their bodquently utilized by right wing politiance or dedication to abortion access planning and reproductive health ies, rather than an insurmountably cians on the state level. In 2018 and for all. This projects the message that options. In other words, it is useful for personal decision be left in the hands 2019, there was a slew of extremely the Biden administration is clearly fo- more than just abortion access. of legislators. One can only hope that harsh restrictions on abortion that cused on granting women bodily au I personally find this act by this is the beginning of a progressive stripped women of their reproductive tonomy and furthering the access to the Biden administration remarkable term and that Biden will continue to rights and body autonomy in Repub- abortion and reproductive healthcare. and the start of a new age for tolprotect the rights of women and men lican-run states. That being said, the Biden’s memorandum has to do with erance and promotion of women’s alike. Vivi Melkonian Co-Opinion Editor
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
OPINION
The Villanovan | 7
A Letter from the Editors: We Must Act Now After a successful first semester, arriving on campus was not consumed with a nervous doubt, but rather a tangible optimism about reuniting with the Villanova community. The prolonged break left students more excited than ever to be immersed back in campus life. Now, a week later, the doubt about another successful semester has abruptly returned. It is human nature to become complacent to the vast COVID-19 safety measures and forget the extremity of our situation. However, only a week into the semester, we are experiencing a rude awakening — over 154 COVID-19 cases accumulated over the weekend. It seems like the overall mindset around campus is a lot more relaxed than it was last semester. Students were overwhelmed with the excitement of being back into their normal social regimen and let safety precautions go by the wayside.
We get it. The Villanova community that is created on campus is difficult to recreate, after all, what other campus distributed “campus cozys” to students with sheer optimism? However, the severity of our situation cannot be ignored, but it can be remedied: we must recommit to Community First and fight to remain on campus. It is clear that the pandemic is not slowing down just yet, with new strains of the virus becoming increasingly present throughout the country. This pandemic has taken its toll on everyone across the world, but we are lucky that we can have some sense of normalcy by being back on campus. To reverse the trend, we need to wear masks, social distance, and prioritize our health. Commit to community first and keep Caritas at the forefront of your mind. We can do this, ‘Cats! Let’s not make Father Peter send that doomsday email.
Villanova students wearing their mask during orientation when first arriving to campus. Courtesy of Villanova University
Social Media Revolution: The Coming Technopopulism Andrew Ceonzo Staff Writer In early 2009, CNBC analyst Rick Santelli erupted into a rant against bailing out people who made poor financial decisions, including a now-famous call for a Tea Party to protest the unfairness evinced by the prospect of using taxpayer money for such purposes. Activists across the country heeded his call and began organizing the Tea Party movement that would later sweep the nation. A similar watershed moment may have occurred when venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya took to CNBC last week to vigorously defend the Redditors of “r/wallstreetbets,” who had catalyzed short squeezes on hedge funds. In short, the professional investors at the hedge funds bet that certain stock prices would go down and “r/wallstreetbets” forced the prices up, most notably with GameStop, leaving some funds scrambling to avoid collapse. While this incident is a blip in the grand scheme of the stock market, it serves as a socio-political harbinger of what the future may look like as technology and the free exchange of information radically alter society. In that vein, we may look back at Palihapitiya’s fiery interview as the moment when technopopulism entered the mainstream. Broadly, technopopulism applies the venture capitalist mindset of focusing less on ideology, having greater tolerance for risk, extensively using trial and error and relentlessly seeking progress of politics and public policy. As Martin Gurri notes in his prescient book “The Revolt of the Public,” changes in communication and information technology, such as the internet and social media, have fundamentally upended the old way of organizing society dating back to the Industrial Age. The institutions of this bygone era — government agencies,
Wall Street firms and newspapers — functioned because their monopoly on information gave them legitimacy and authority in the eyes of the public. This dictated to the masses what was happening in the world in an “I-talk-you-listen” method of communication. Hedge funds are a perfect example of this model; they use their institutional clout to execute massive trades and go on CNBC to pronounce their view of the market, while the public is left watching and listening. However, with tools like Robinhood, which allows users commission-free trades, and Reddit, where groups can crowdsource and organize information, the public is not only talking back, but squeezing hedge funds’ short positions. In a world where Redditors can torpedo the holdings of Wall Street professionals, the elites and their institutions hemorrhage authority in the eyes of the public. The masses leveraging vast networks of informational technology in disruptive ways have occurred worldwide in the past decade. Similar revolts of the public include the Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, the Indignados in Spain, the Gilet Jaune in France, the Estallido Social in Chile, Antifa in Seattle and Portland and many of the groups that recently invaded the Capitol. These disparate groups shared a deep resentment of the elite establishment within their respective societies and utilized social media to organize. Our elites and institutions have no clue how to respond to these developments. They are used to top-down bureaucracy and a monopoly of information. They are not familiar with the decentralized, networked world of the internet where Redditors can pull off a Bull Run, Egyptians can oust Hosni Mubarak after weeks of protests planned on Facebook and women can use social media to expose the sexual predators within elite media circles through #MeToo.
This process has drained the elites of their legitimacy because not only does the public realize the elite emperor class has no clothes, but it was the public itself who stripped them naked. The elites of the major institutions have responded with a repressive and reactionary stance seen most clearly in the de-platforming of Parler and Discord banning the wallstreetbets server.These events have only furthered the public’s distrust and the belief that the elites’ claim to the mantle of meritocracy is bunk. Eventually, a new elite class that truly earned the trust of the public will rise to replace the out of touch crop currently in power who are desperately grasping at straws for what is already lost. Palihapitiya, a former executive at Facebook, provides an example of someone who could successfully navigate this changing landscape. Like Trump and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (the most prominent left-wing populist figure in this new age), Palihapitiya intuitively understands how the democratization of information has changed society and the importance of media — both traditional and social — to politics in the digital age. Much like how then-candidate Trump called into cable news shows and held half-hour conversations with the hosts, Palihapitiya often does the same when he spars with CNBC’s investment experts by intoning against the status quo. Similar to AOC streaming on Instagram Live or Twitch and Trump lobbing bombs on Twitter, Palihapitiya often engages with his followers on Twitter to talk about investment and public policy ideas. He also hosts a podcast with other prominent Silicon Valley investors and has been an early adopter of the audio-chat social media app Clubhouse, which is popular with venture capitalists and futurists. These communication strategies eliminate the perceived distance between the elites in their ivory towers and the public, who,
in Gurri’s estimation, instinctively distrust detached, removed institu tional elites. These trends may manifest at the ballot box more quickly than previously thought, as Palihapitiya is among the many prominent voices in the effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom and announced that he would run against Newsom in a potential recall election. His platform contains a number of bold policies but does not nearly fit into our current Democrat-Republican divide. Instead, it is a look at what a future-oriented technopopulism might look like and provides a stark contrast to the nostalgic populism of figures like Trump, which was primarily defined for what it stood against rather than what it affirmatively proposed. Old school populism has historically been driven by nihilist revulsion against the status quo without a vision of the future. The evolution of channeling sentiments undergirding previous forms of populism into a positively-oriented technopopulism agenda seeking to democratize the ivory towers of society for the benefit of the average person would portend a major shift. Whereas the nihilist populism of old could be symbolized by the Trump rally, this technopopulism of the future is encapsulated in the Bitcoin white paper. Regardless of whether Palihapitiya actually wins the California governor’s mansion, his style and mindset, which are radical departures from the rigidly ideological and reflexively partisan politics of the current elite class, will likely become ascendant as the digital information age matures. Societal shifts have left our country polarized, the populous mired in distrust and the public in revolt. Venture capitalists have given us incredible inventions and services that we use every day, and maybe technopopulism can bring their innovative problem solving to rescue our politics.
8 | The Villanovan
OPINION
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Tom Brady Defies the Odds to Make it to 10th Superbowl Jacob Artz Staff Writer I have never been a huge fan of Tom Brady. I am a die-hard Eagles fan and will never let Patriots fans hear the end of Super Bowl LII, when Eagles quarterback Nick Foles beat Tom Brady’s Patriots for Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl title. The underdog mentality in me always rooted for the opposing teams in the playoffs to beat him. Now that Brady has cemented himself as the greatest of all time by making it to his tenth Super Bowl, I will give him the praise he deserves by talking about how he got there and why he will lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title. Brady, now at age 43, has defied all the odds for starting quarterbacks in the NFL, as he continues to put up monster numbers despite his age. He led Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl staged in a team’s home stadium for the first time in NFL history. This is only the beginning regarding Brady’s incredible accomplishments in the NFL. According to the Greeny podcast on ESPN radio, Brady has appeared in the Super Bowl in four of the last five seasons and five of the last seven. Out of the four major sports, he is only one of three players that has played in three championship games/ series after turning forty. He is one of three players in the NFL to play in the Super Bowl in three different decades and the first in NFL history to play in ten Super Bowls. Finally, he has as many NFC Championship wins as NFC
Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates a win at the NFC Championship. Courtesy of Getty Images
legends, Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees and Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who Brady beat last Sunday. Both of these future Hall of Famers only have one NFC Championship win each, and they have been playing in the NFC for almost two decades, while Brady has only played one season in the conference. The season is even more incredible because Brady made it to the Super Bowl despite the challenges coronavirus presented on the NFL season. Brady left his post in New England after six Super Bowl titles for a new challenge in Tampa Bay. He had to
learn a new offensive system with a vertical passing attack employed by new head coach Bruce Arians. He had no OTAs (organized team activities), training camp or preseason games to get in a rhythm with his new weapons on offense. His statistics from this season are incredible nonetheless. According to ESPN, Brady is third in the NFL for the 2020 season with 4,633 passing yards, and is tied for second with 40 total touchdown passes for the regular season. This playoff run is even more special, as the team won three road playoff games over the
Washington Football Team, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers. There were little to no fans watching, but winning three road playoff games in a row is incredibly hard. Many teams struggle to make it to the playoffs or win one, but Brady makes it look easy. Brady’s job will not be easy, as the Buccaneers are facing a formidable opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs. This team is led by the young superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes and legendary coach Andy Reid, who are seeking their second straight Super Bowl championship. They have all the makings of a championship team, especially when it comes to offensive strategy. Though Mahomes is almost unstoppable on offense with all the weapons he has and the amazing plays he can make, I believe Tampa Bay’s defense will hold him back just enough for Brady to lead his team to a Super Bowl title. Brady has Kansas City right where he wants them. He is playing in Raymond James Stadium, Tampa’s home field. He has all the motivation in the world to capture a seventh Super Bowl title and first without his former Coach Bill Belichick, giving him the opportunity to prove to the world he played a bigger role on those Super Bowl teams in New England than people give him credit for. He will keep his team in the game by scoring timely touchdowns, leading a game winning fourth quarter drive as time dwindles, and win Super Bowl LV 30-27 over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Lack of COVID-19 Communication From Administration Tina Aron Co-Opinion Editor The first week back on campus has been nothing if not eventful. Typically, the usual excitement of new classes beginning, reuniting with friends, and adjusting back to living away from home is more than enough to deal with when returning to campus. Yet, this week, students were met with an added stress that continues to loom over campus: the drastic spike in COVID-19 cases in the Villanova community. With the presence of new strains and the general fatigue of dealing with the pandemic, a rise in the number of cases is not surprising. However, that rise should not be in the gravity that we have seen in the last week. By February 1, we have accumulated over 244 active cases. Rumors of a lockdown or getting sent home are rapidly spreading, yet the Villanova administration is nearly radio silent. Other than a singular email sent by the Vice President of Student Life, Rev. John Stack, that details “if this [positive] trend continues, Father Peter will have no option but to end the semester on campus,” there has not been any further communication. Students have been left in the dark, causing a potent anxiety that lingers over
The Villanova University Health Center where students are being tested for COVID-19. Courtesy of Villanova University
campus. Obviously, no one wants to receive that final email from Father Peter ending the semester on campus, but as a sophomore Villanova student puts it: “the turbulent time our campus is facing stems primarily from a lack of communication to every student.” This student feels that simply “sending emails without any real information regarding what is going to happen opens
the door for rumors to run rampant and leaves a greater sense of anxiety all around.” Speculation and rumors are helpful to no one. A simple communication from the Villanova administration indicating even the slightest ray of hope or preparing us for the worst could give students some peace. The Coronavirus Dashboard is public information—it is no secret that we are in the worst shape regarding cases that we have
ever experienced. In his final comment, the sophomore Villanova student added that “we have seen three consecutive days of 60+ cases, and yet we have heard nothing about a chance of lockdown, a stop of in-person classes, or how close we are to being sent home, which is causing a great sense of concern.” In this situation, I would argue the contrary of the common saying, “no news is good news.” With this “no news” approach, we are left in a constant state of the unknown with a fear of receiving that final email at any point. Villanova administration should put the rumors to rest by hopefully providing its students with some positive information. I understand and recognize the challenges that the Villanova administration is going through right now, and I applaud them for the work that they have done so far. I know we are all sick of hearing the phrase, “unprecedented times,” but it still rings true. The administration is at working towards a tough decision to be sure, but it would still be nice to know what our future holds. The next few days are crucial for our time on campus. Hopefully we can soon put the panic and rumors behind us, but until then, students need to take the threat of leaving seriously.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
CULTURE
The Villanovan | 9
Vibe Check with The Villanovan How Students Really Feel About Our Return to Campus ight is the r nd it e v e l a beli “I still for the schoo th in k n ’t io don decis body. I essu re student s as much pr dm in a a there w kUp from the ht is s s a d M in ig to # ester. H ed to get m e s t s t ne as la , we jus w.” 20/20 der control no th is u n Cox, - Em ily 021 f2 Class o
ro ugh ma de it th it e W ! d o o ke “G hy not ma the fa ll, w e spring?” thro ugh th u nders, - Jake Sa 023 Class of 2
“I a m v er on ca m y excited to be for eve pus a nd so g r ba ck ry a done to th ing Villa no tefu l v k a has e e pu everyo ne ca n s safe! I hope continu safe a n e to be d have a sma rt so we c g reat s emeste a n r!” - Day n a Class o Deakin, f 202 3
“I don’t think we should have moved back to campus in the first place.” - Andrew Kline, Class of 2024
“Uncom su rpris fortab le. I wa s e d th us ba ck ey bro ught w ith delay.” o ut
- N oa h Sen Class o g DeLong, f 202 1
“ B a se d ter wen on how last s em t, I idea to th in k it was g esb ood r ing u ca m p us , b ut in s ba ck to order t we rea ll os y nu mber need to get t tay he of case s dow n ” - Ja ck ie Dors et Class o f 202 t, 3
CULTURE
Long Awaited Reopening of Kelly’s Taproom Has Arrived Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor Continued from p. 1 a table. Groups are no longer able to congregate at the bar or purchase only drinks. In order to stay, food must be purchased by patrons in groups of six or less.
time one is not seated at a table. Groups are no longer able to congregate at the bar or purchase only drinks. To stay there, food must be purchased by patrons in groups of six or less. With regard to the rules put into place, Mitchell noted how important it was that his team embodied the same goals. It was their devotion to said rules that solidified the owner’s belief in a re-opening. Without their commitment, Mitchell noted, even one customer could jeopardize the other patrons and the very validity of the protocols that were put into place. As triumphant as the re-opening has been, the challenges presented to the business did not stop with just ensuring the utmost safety of its customers. “There have been two
challenges,” Mitchell said. “The first is the negativity from many that thought that Kelly’s should not be open. Why should Kelly’s be singled out when other establishments are open? Of course every establishment has an absolute obligation to follow the rules and conduct itself with respect for the protocols in place. The other challenge has been working with the new P.O.S. system which includes touchless menus by scanning the QR code and how that feeds through the system for ordering. Nothing that can’t be solved, but it has been new for us.” However, even with all these changes upon the re-opening, the Taproom is still “looking forward to providing a safe environment for this to resume some normalcy in very small doses.” Through the whole experience, Mitchell has found resilience revealing itself in the hearts of his staff and community members. He was in awe of their devotion to each other and the willingness to comply with protocol for the greater good. Another important note is that Kelly’s Taproom has been dealing with a situation that has been
plaguing small businesses across the country. Regulations regarding COVID-19 continue to change the rules on what these establishments can do, how they can conduct their business and even if they are allowed to conduct business at all. Luckily, for the staff at Kelly’s, management was “able to rehire all employees that had not taken opportunities outside the restaurant industry.” Such a novelty has not been granted to many other businesses during this time.
When asked about his thoughts on the struggles of all the other small businesses, Mitchell related words of fortification. “We are almost through this,” he said. “Hang in there, be safe and have faith.” It is with great zeal that customers can once again socialize in the confines of the famous establishment, and it is with great hope that someday soon all similar businesses will be able to achieve the same victory.
Kelly’s social media reopening announcement. Courtesy of @kellystaproom on Instagram
10 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
CULTURE
Restaurant Review: LaScala’s Fire, A Philly Favorite Maddie Schieder Staff Writer Since we are all usually familiar with the plethora of restaurants surrounding Villanova’s campus, especially those in driving distance, LaScala’s Fire in the Villanova Center should be on everyone’s radar. This new restaurant opened Sept. 23, 2020 and has been quite busy. LaScala’s Fire already has three other locations in downtown Philadelphia, Glassboro, NJ, and Marlton, NJ. On its website, it mentions that the inspiration for the name came from family members who travelled to our familiar city of Philadelphia from Calabria, Italy. To this day, the restaurant is still run by owner Rob LaScala. My first visit to the Italian inspired restaurant was on Oct. 9, 2020. A group of friends and I went for a birthday celebration, and it was the perfect accommodation.
Villanovans love a good restaurant they can dine at on the weekends to dress up and take pictures with their friends. This place checks all of the boxes. The atmosphere is extremely modern, with a mostly white marbled interior. There is also a heated outdoor seating area consisting of couches and tables, managed by a very friendly staff. Inside, the decor is amazing and perfect for photos. However, the star of the show (and what you’ve all been waiting for) was the food. My friends and I were pleasantly surprised by the number and variety of appetizers offered, since we all seem to have different tastes. We could all share many small plates to start our meal. When it came time to order the main course, I was torn on what to order, simply because everything sounded so appealing. The courses mix flavors and taste like a match made in heaven. The ricotta cheese board with honey was fantastic. I
would never think to mix cheese with honey, but it was the best thing I have ever tasted. Another unexpected menu item was cheesesteak egg rolls. The American-Chinese dish mixed with a Philadelphia cheesesteak was genius. For the main course, the portions are very large. However, if you’re hungry, you can tackle it on your own, like I was able to. LaScala’s has everything from gnocchi to paninis. It’s an Italian food lover’s dream. The restaurant is also known for its wood-fired pizzas. My friend
got a pie with buffalo chicken, and I feel as though I blinked and it was gone. That’s how good it was. Although during my few trips to this location I did not get the opportunity to order dessert, the photos of the restaurant’s desserts on Yelp made my mouth water. We all love going to Starbucks and First Watch down the road, especially because of their convenient location, but next time you make a trip to the Villanova Center, try La Scala’s Fire. Even if you visit just for an appetizer, you will not regret it.
LaScala’s Fire can be found at Villanova Center. Courtesy of USA Restaurants
Villanova Environmental Group: The Organization’s Mission Maddie Scolio Staff Writer While the ongoing pandemic has made meeting and organizing events as a club more interesting, the Villanova Environmental Group (VEG) is using this opportunity to explore new methods to galvanize support for sustainability and environmental justice. This semester, VEG will be publishing a bimonthly column in The Villanovan centered around environmental issues that affect the University and the surrounding communities as well as information about how to incorporate more sustainable practices into ever day life.
One of the unique facets of VEG is the broadness of its mission. Each year, as members of the leadership change, the goals of the group change as well. Throughout its history, VEG has tackled issues such as global climate change and challenging the University’s unsustainable practices. Recently, VEG has engaged with the Villanova community by organizing trips to local farms and gardens and helping to coordinate the University’s Earth Day of Service. It has also created educational materials related to converting to a more sustainable, plant-based diet and even held a plant-based food tasting table in the Connelly Center.
The VEG leadership team includes Madeline Scolio as president, Taylor Thorton as Vice President, Anna Connolly as Social Media Coordinator, Katherine Melbert as Secretary and Lucie Scura as Volunteer Coordinator. With an executive board composed mostly of freshmen and sophomores, VEG plans to work more on longer-term goals, primarily centered around local activism and service. This semester, the club hopes to collaborate more with other sustainability and environmental groups on campus as well. It is collaborating with members of the University’s Sustainability Committee on figuring
out how students can provide support to local organizers in Chester, PA who are working towards shutting down one of the nation’s most polluting garbage incinerators. Although the pandemic has complicated many of VEG’s plans for the semester, the club is still very excited to engage with the Villanova community around issues relating to sustainability and the environment. If you have any interest in becoming more involved in the organization, contact environmentalgroup.vu@ gmail.com or look for general body meeting dates to be posted on the Instagram account @villanova.environmental.group.
The GameStop Short Squeeze and Its Effect on Villanovans figures as diverse as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Donald Trump Jr. and Kendall Hayes Dave Portnoy, an internet celebrity Staff Writer beloved by University students. Not only did the brokerages stop allowing A.J. Fezza people to buy GameStop ($GME) Co-Culture Editor shares, but on Jan. 27, the communication platform Discord banned It’s a story that will go down the r/wallstreetbets server, causing in stock market history: a group of stock speculation and communicaRedditors from the subreddit “r/wall- tion on the forum to cease. Once this streetbets” organized a nationwide occurred and people could no longer movement for people to invest in the discuss or buy the GameStop shares, dying video game retailer, GameStop. the price of the share plummeted, This was done in an effort to cause fi- causing people to lose significant nancial ruin to hedge funds, who were amounts of money overnight. betting against GameStop by short The Villanovan spoke to selling the stock. several University students who were A short squeeze occurs when involved in this high stakes war with a stock jumps sharply, forcing traders Wall Street. who bet against the stock to buy it Muhammad Sian, a graduin order to prevent greater losses. In ate student, was urged by his older this case, everyday people, initially brother to buy GameStop stocks one spurred by posts from r/wallstreetmonth ago, before this entire situation bets, rapidly drove up the price of became widely publicized. GameStop to force traders to buy in “My older brother told me, at massive prices. ‘Buy this many [GME shares] at this The plan was successful. time,’” Sian said. “And so I did.” GameStop’s stock price went from Sian bought 10 shares at a low of $2.57 per share to a high of about $20. Soon, the value rose to $483 per share early on Thursday, $60. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Sian Jan. 28. dumped his 10 shares and made However, later that day, about $300. Robinhood, TDAmeritrade and “AMC is next,” Sian said. other brokerages halted the buying Indeed, many are now of GameStop, attracting accusations turning their attention toward AMC of market manipulation from major Theatres as a potential company from
which to buy stocks. Like GameStop, hedge funds have been betting against AMC. Unlike GameStop, AMC is actually expected to eventually resume its operations. In-store video game purchases are becoming obsolete, but this is not as much the case with in-person movie viewings. Senior Joe Torres had a similar story. “When I went on r/wallstreetbets, it felt like a movement. Everyone was united around the cause of making money and trying to take down the hedge funds. I ended up buying in on that day at around $90, and selling 2 days later around $300. I tried to put my money in AMC afterwards, but Robinhood was restricting purchases of the stock, so I couldn’t. I am going to try to buy back in later this week.” Some University students, however, did not have such a positive experience with the short squeeze. “I heard about the trend with GameStop, Blackberry, and AMC, so I bought $500 worth of GameStop and doubled my money in two hours,” one sophomore said. “I decided that this was a really quick and easy way to make money, so I sold all my other stocks and went all in. And then overnight I lost $5,000.” Due to Robinhood no longer allowing users to buy more shares in GameStop, the stock began to de-
crease at a concerning rate, starting a financial plummet of thousands of people, including Villanovans. Lucas Deane, another sophomore, also had a negative experience. “I went ahead and bought a few shares at $250 dollars a share on Wednesday morning. The plan seemed on track, with the price reaching over $350 on that same day. The next day, everything made a turn for the worse. Everyone on Discord started saying that Robinhood canceled buying of the GameStop stock, even delisting the stock from their app, and only allowing people to sell ... I use TDAmeritrade so I was not affected in the same way. But still, I saw my position more than cut in half in the matter of minutes due to this.” Deane went on to give more of his opinion about Robinhood’s restrictions. “I cannot express enough my contempt at how wrong and illegal this seems to be,” he said. “I believe in free market principles and that everyone should have the ability to buy and sell stocks at any time during market hours, but Robinhood restricted that right with a moment’s notice.” As this particular battle begins to die down, everyone must ask themselves, what’s next? Who is to say that this was not just the first battle in an even bigger war: the war against Wall Street.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
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The Villanovan | 11
Bruce Brands: A Villanova Student Business Spotlight Gabby Bevil Staff Writer In today’s plagued world, most of us have thrown our jeans and dress shirts aside for the comfort of sweatshirts and sweatpants. With days of online classes and freezing temperatures, matching sweat suit combos are both trendy and comfortable. Nobody provides a better market for this than Villanova students who love to rep their school, club and even Greek life. Looking to take part in the new wave? Well, look no further. We have found your perfect match for comfort and style. Villanova sophomore Victoria Bruce has started her own company titled “Bruce Brands” that consists of custom sweatshirts, sweatpants and other items. When students were sent home last March, the combination of more free time and Bruce’s passion for fashion led to her new hit company. What started as preparation for the sorority tradition of “big-little week” quickly snowballed into a full time project when friends started asking for their own designs.
“After making a few items, I showed my friends, and they all wanted them for their sororities,” Bruce said. The fun does not stop there. Bruce’s craft is not just limited to sweatpants and sweatshirts. “I also have done sports team sweatshirts, plain sweatshirts with stars on them, personalized laptop cases with names and leopard print and masks,” Bruce said. Customers can choose from a wide variety of trends and items to fit what they need as a college student this semester. They can be adjusted for sports teams, clubs, sororities, fraternities and other interests. Bruce’s company took off when she utilized cool designs for inspiration but adjusted them to her own, “A lot of designs are designers-inspired, which shows what is trending in the fashion industry today” she noted. Bruce is not limited only to Villanova students and can make apparel for students at other schools as well. As Bruce opened up production on campus, she has continued to grow her business.
“It has definitely brought in more orders as girls see each other’s sweatshirts and want their own,” she said. “One of the things I love about Villanova Sorority Life is that while it’s special to be in your own chapter, every chapter is so interconnected as many girls have friends in all different sororities. Having my friends in all different sororities wearing my apparel is so much fun and shows the connections throughout all of Greek Life and speaks to the family aspect of Villanova’s community” Girls supporting her brand have only multiplied her business. Awareness has spread throughout campus as more and more girls support this small business started by one of our own. Bruce’s business is rewarding. She loves to see Villanovans rep her craft walking around campus, whether she knows the person or not. “That’s the most rewarding thing ever and motivates me to keep improving and growing the business,” Bruce said. Bruce has allowed students to wear unique items in style, allowing individuality and style to grow on
campus. Bruce is always up to create new designs and is up to new ideas. If someone is interested in ordering, direct message @bruce_brands on Instagram.
Julia Stanisci models Bruce Brands. Couresty of Victoria Bruce
Back to School Predictions: Second Semester Horoscopes Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor Aries: You’re first in line for new beginnings. You have been craving for a fresh start, which is good because this semester is bound to lead you to an undiscovered passion of yours. Let your hunger for adventure drive you towards where you feel most revitalized, and this semester will be the best one yet. Taurus: You have a great ability to read the room, but sometimes you let this get in the way of opening up. This semester is the time to listen to your instincts, but to also become more aware of how they can be holding you back. Get out of your own head and you will be put in the direct path of some great new relationships. Gemini: This semester will be filled with temptations: countless dinner outings, shopping and Starbucks cravings. It will be hard to say no to all these things being thrown your way, but this semester is all about balling on a budget.
Your impulsive attitude is often happily intoxicating, but not when it comes to money. It is time to work on your frugality. Cancer: You are stronger than you realize. Last semester was proof of that, and for the second semester, that strength is going to flourish even more. You are often too quick to lose sight of your capabilities and special qualities, which can lead to self-doubt. Keep your head up because this semester is yours for the taking. Leo: This semester will provide you with the opportunity to lead. Whether that be for a club or simply among friends, it is vital that you are humbled by this role. While you are surely capable of commanding respect, confidence has the ability to turn into arrogance. However, if you are careful to avoid that, you will rise to the occasion in more ways than one. Virgo: Life is unpredictable. This fact, no matter how hard you try to change it, is something that will always be true. You love to be in control, but that is not always possible. Especially in college, there
is always something unexpected around the corner. For the second semester, you will find yourself in a lot of unpredictable circumstances. The best thing to do is embrace them. Adventure will do you insurmountable good. Libra: You have been grinding to get where you are today. There is no doubt that you will continue on that grind this semester, an admirable quality. However, be sure to take your foot off the gas pedal every once in a while and look around to take in your surroundings. It’s important to not only work hard for the future, but to appreciate the here and now. Scorpio: This semester will bring you the highest of highs, but unfortunately the lowest of lows as well. When you are high, be sure to relish the moment. However, when you get to that valley, you have to accept how you are feeling. This semester will test you in your ability to embrace your emotions, and the only way to rise from the lows you will face will be to admit how you feel. Sagittarius: There is some-
one from your past that keeps tickling the back of your thoughts. You keep finding yourself visualizing old conversations, what you would say, even things you know you never will say. It is unfair to both you and the person you’re thinking about. This semester is all about deciding to either move on or face the person directly. Capricorn: For you, new relationships will come to fruition this semester. Get excited, because suddenly the people you find yourself spending time with will become less like friends and more like family. Aquarius: Time to fall in love. Lucky you! There is some undoubted chemistry in the air for you this semester. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the timing is perfect for the swooning to begin. Pisces: Some unexpected conversations have left you feeling confused. Maybe you feel a certain way about someone you didn’t expect, but fear not. Second semester is all about surprises, good or bad, and these shifting perspectives will only help you in the long run.
Villanovan Winter Cookbook: Homemade Mac and Cheese Julia Stanisci Co-Culture Editor Welcome back, Villanova! Getting back into the swing of things is hard, especially when it feels like negative 3 million degrees outside with a wind speed of 1,000 miles per hour. Like most things, the cure to this dilemma is obviously food. These winter recipes will warm you up and have you feeling cozy and content in no time. Whether you are cheffing for the super bowl, Sunday dinner with the roomies, Valentine’s Day, or just because, we hope this mac and cheese recipe will bring you as much warmth and joy as your
Campus Cozy this winter. Mac and cheese from scratch is just better. Ingredients: (Serves 5)
½ pound pasta of choice (I highly recommend using elbows or shells.) 3 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour ½ tsp salt Pinch of pepper 1 ½ cup milk of choice ¾ cup half and half 2 ½ cups shredded cheese (You could use cheddar or any other cheese you like, or a blend if you prefer.)
Recipe:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. 2. Cook and drain macaroni (following package directions). 3. In medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. 4. Mix in salt, pepper, and flour and cook for about two minutes. 5. While stirring, slowly add in half and half and milk and cook for a few minutes until slightly thickened. 6. Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheese until melted. 7. Add in the cooked macaroni and stir until blended in mixture. 8. Optional: Put in baking dish, sprinkle on some extra parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and/or ba-
con bits on top and bake for 15-20 minutes for extra gooeyness and sophistication.
Delicious Mac and Cheese. Courtesy of Simply Scratch.com
12 | The Villanovan
Nova
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
CULTURE
Quizzo
A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor The beloved weekly University trivia competition, Nova Quizzo, returned to campus on Thursday, Jan. 28. This time, Quizzo was held on the Campus Green instead of its usual spot at the Riley Ellipse (the Oreo). At 19°F, the event was blisteringly cold. When you take the massive wind chill into consideration, the temperature felt sub-zero. Numerous groups had to periodically run over to the nearby Falvey Library in between rounds, simply to stay warm. Participants were able to book a fire pit in advance. However, the rapidly-swaying fire barely helped in the fight against the frigid weather. Campus Activities Team (CAT) distributed hand warmers to mitigate the freezing sensations. However, the additional aids barely helped. Sophomore Pat Lyons of the Quizzo team “Marv’s Maniac’s,” testified to the brutal weather. “I was incredibly cold, especially in my fingers because I was typing all the answers on my phone for my team,” Lyons said.
and
Food
Nevertheless, what appeared to be about 20 or so teams of brave and eager participants showed up that night, ready to compete, and stayed through the entire game. The theme of the Quizzo competition was “2020.” There were three rounds that night: historic events of 2020, celebrity tweets in 2020 and albums of 2020. The winning team was called “Scrambled Legs.” The team won shirts and hats from the bookstore, as well as Nova Quizzo Champion shirts. Overall, it was a fun night. However, my suggestion for CAT going forward this semester is that it tries to rent out Jake Nevin Field House for Quizzo at least until March. CAT’s in person activities for the week did not stop there. The next day, Food Truck Friday hit the Campus Green. It was 21°F with considerably less wind, making the experience a bit more bearable than Quizzo. Students could get cheesesteaks, tacos and more at the Beast of the Street food truck. There was also a pizza truck, an ice cream truck and a dessert truck. On Saturday, there was a basketball game viewing at the
Truck
Friday
Return
Students gather to enjoy a night of games and friends on campus. Courtesy of A.J. Fezza
Campus Green. Viewers who wished to see Villanova compete against Seton Hall were expected to wear light blue in support of the Wildcats. Later that night, there were two games of bingo. The University was able to successfully keep students busy
with activities for the first weekend of this semester. Hopefully, COVID-19 cases return to lower levels, and we are able to continue to experience many more Quizzo games, Food Truck Fridays and bingo nights all the way through spring.
Weezer’s Album “OK Human” Is Much More Than OK Miguel Badia Staff Writer It’s been two years since rock/pop/alternative band Weezer released its slightly disappointing self-titled album “Weezer” (also known as “The Black Album”), as well as a cover album featuring their rendition of Toto’s “Africa” (“The Teal Album”). Now, with its new album “OK Human,” released on Friday, Jan. 29, Weezer is truly back. For the past year, the band has been promoting a new album. This was a return-to-form rock and roll album entitled “Van Weezer,” which was set to release in May 2020. Along with the new album, the band was set to take on the “Hella Mega Tour” with Fall Out Boy and Green Day that summer. However, the pandemic quickly forced Weezer to rethink its plans for releasing new music. It made the difficult decision to delay “Van Weezer” for a full year, disappointing many fans tired of listening to the rendition of “Africa.” The next couple of months consisted of complete radio silence from the band, and fans were clamoring for any sort of announcement. On Jan. 21, Weezer announced that it will be releasing a completely different album called “OK Human.” The album’s title is a nod to Radiohead’s legendary 1997 rock album “OK Computer.” However, “OK Human” is completely different from anything rock-related. Instead of a rock opera, fans received an album full of piano ballads, a 38-piece orchestra and introspective lyrics about vulnerability and
escapism. Overall, I think “OK Human” is the album we didn’t know we needed. It consists of some of the most compelling lyrics lead singer Rivers Cuomo has ever written, reflecting on isolation during the pandemic in a relatable way. Each song seamlessly flows into the next, making the whole album feel like one long song. The opening track, “All My Favorite Songs,” details Cuomo’s conflicting emotions about his life. He sings, “All my favorite songs are slow and sad, all my favorite people make me mad.” The production and lyrics are excellent, but my only complaint about the song is that the rhyme scheme is not very sophisticated, rhyming “sad,” “mad” and “bad” (Eminem must be trembling). In “Grapes of Wrath,” Cuomo relishes in his love for listening to audiobooks in order to escape everyday life. The track channels the feeling of reading a good book as opposed to spending time focused on technology. The lyrics expand on a theme present throughout the album of denying technology for a more authentic, natural and human life. The theme of escapism continues in “Playing My Piano,” in which Cuomo explains how music allows him to forget everything going on in the world. It includes my personal favorite line, “Kim Jong-Un could blow up my city, I’d never know.” My favorite song on the album is “Bird With A Broken Wing,” in which Cuomo applies the metaphor of an injured bird to express the feeling of worthlessness. “I was feeling pretty irrele-
vant and passed over and past my prime, I guess I was feeling pretty sorry for myself,” Cuomo explained in an interview with Apple Music. I love this song because it gives me a feeling of nostalgia and has a very peaceful and calming vibe despite its slightly depressing lyrics. Finally, in the closing track, “La Brea Tar Pits,” Cuomo reflects on his own mortality and worries that he may fade into obscurity. Yet, he says that “there’s still so much to give.” In my opinion, this song was a bit underwhelming as a closing track,
but I like the chorus, and it gives the album a nice feeling of closure. I would highly recommend listening to “OK Human.” The length is around thirty minutes, so it’s a pretty short and easy listen. I always find myself coming back to Weezer because the band always comes up with something fresh and different for me to appreciate. Although its excruciatingly extensive discography (fourteen albums over the past three decades) is not as consistent as I would like it to be, they’ve made some of my favorite music ever, and I can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Weezer’s newest album was released on Friday, Jan. 29. Courtesy of Weezer.com
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
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The Villanovan | 13
Villasnowva: Students Enjoy First Snow Days of Year A.J. Fezza Co-Culture Editor The first day of February was a memorable one for Villanovans: it was the first snow day of the year. It started snowing around 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 31. The snow was intermittent, with hail, and never rose to blizzard-level intensity. Still, it accumulated across campus and showed no signs of stopping. By night-time, there was chatter throughout the University about a possible snow day the next day. The talk intensified when students were notified that the dining halls that night were all shutting down early at 8 p.m. Finally, at 5:18 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 1, with about eight inches of snow on the ground, students received a Nova Alert that all classes that day were cancelled. This applied to both online and in-person classes. COVID-19 surveillance testing was cancelled as well. Some professors treated the day as a proper snow day, while others sent students lecture videos to watch. Nevertheless, students had free time, and they were going to use it. Students all over campus
flocked to hills for the opportunity to sled. The hills by Delurey Hall and by Picotte Hall at Dundale were popular spots. However, by far the most popular locations were the area surrounding St. Thomas of Villanova Church and Austin Field. Students started gathering at these locations around noon, and the attendance continued to rise throughout the day until the sun began to set. Since most students didn’t come prepared with a sled, they had to make do with other items. Most used cardboard as a makeshift sled (which proved to be problematic, since a few rounds of sledding against the snow considerably softens the cardboard). Some used garbage bags, laundry baskets and mattresses. There were also rumors of students taking Community First signs and “Tent Open” signs and sledding with them. Some students, instead of sledding, snowboarded down hills or rolled down them while curled up in garbage bins. On Austin Field, there were also football games, spikeball games and snowball fights all over. Most students seemed to stay in groups of three or four, presumably with their roommates. The most surprising sight was to see pairs of male students
jogging around in shorts in the chilly 28°F weather. One group of senior girls was constructing an igloo, including Jenna Kolano. “We’ve been building for almost two hours,” Kolano said. “We probably have two hours left to go.” Later that day, Kolano re-
ported on further progress. “We didn’t have the stamina to finish it, but we got a few more layers done,” Kolano responded. “If we get class cancelled tomorrow [Tuesday, Feb. 2], we’re gonna try to finish, if it’s still there.” Fortunately for Kolano, it continued to snow until Tuesday morning, and there was yet another snow day on Feb. 2. The group finished their igloo that afternoon. One sight that could be found everywhere, whether on South Campus, Main Campus or West Campus, was the presence of snowmen of all sizes. These creations sat outside of residence halls, in open fields and at the doorstep of St. Thomas of Villanova Church. All in all, it was a beautiful scene to witness the widespread joy across campus. It was the most uniformly cheerful day of the year so far for the University. After a chaotic and distressing month, the events of Feb. 1 (and Feb. 2) were especially uplifting. Some freshmen coming from the southern half of the United States may have never even experienced Julia Weicht (on left) and Jenna Kolano (on snow before in their lifetimes. Hoperight) pose by their completed igloo. fully, the University just gave them a Courtesy of Jenna Kolano great first impression.
The University’s COVID Solution: The Campus Cozy Kendall Hayes Staff Writer This past semester, the University was one of the few colleges in the United States that did not have to invoke a campus wide quarantine, cancel an on-campus second semester or send its students home. How did Villanova achieve such a feat? This accomplishment has led many people to ask the question, what is our secret? The answer is that the University’s administration cares. In August 2020, Villanova students were surprised to learn that in response to COVID-19, the University would be giving students a portable chair for the sole purpose of spending time outdoors with friends. While other colleges across the country responded to the pandemic by locking its dorms down, setting curfews or not even having students on campus, this was not the Villanova way. The administration acknowledged and accepted that this would be unlike any semester in the school’s 179-year history.
However, instead of giving up and turning our University into a prison-like environment where students could no longer enjoy themselves, Villanova’s administration was determined to make this semester feel as “normal” as possible. Although a portable chair seems small, the ideas behind the chair are full of concern and care for the community. At the beginning of December, in a fashion similar to the iconic portable chair distribution back in August, the University organization Community First sent an email to the student population with an unusual and unexpected subject line: “The Campus Cozy: Register Today!” After this email was sent, many people joked that the University was solving COVID-19 with a blanket-like, oversized sweatshirt. Of course, the University understands that it is going to take a lot more than a Cozy to end this pandemic. But, at the same time, Villanova understands that since there is so much going on in this world that we cannot fix, why shouldn’t we just fix the things we can? And with that
began the distribution of the Campus Cozy, so that during a time of uncertainty and discomfort, students can feel some sense of safety. Cozies were distributed from Monday, Jan. 25 through Thursday, Jan. 28 at the Connelly Center information desk. They will continue to be distributed throughout the first week of February at the same location to all who register for a Cozy pick-up time in advance. The Villanovan asked some students to share how they feel about Villanova’s distribution of the Campus Cozy: “I really appreciate how Villanova recognizes that this is a difficult time for us and is trying to help by providing us with the portable chairs and Campus Cozies,” sophomore Abigail Lukas said. “I’m so happy Villanova gave us the Campus Cozy,” sophomore Alyssa Paster said. “They know this is a tough time and are trying to make things better. I love wearing it everywhere on campus and seeing other people wearing it as well.” “The Campus Cozy is
fun,” junior Annie Reilly said. “My friends are all really jealous and said that their schools only gave them some wipes and a mask.” Now, as we watch the first week of classes come to a close, each student is leaving the week with new professors, books and excitement for the new semester and their Campus Cozies.
Junior Annie Reilly jumps for joy, wearing her Campus Cozy. Courtesy of Kendall Hayes
14 | The Villanovan
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
SPORTS
SPORTS
Remainder of Villanova Athletics Returns to Play Tee Parris Staff Writer Staff, faculty and students of Villanova University have returned to campus from across the country and from around the world to begin the second semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. As per tradition, the student athletes and their coaches returned to campus prior to the start of classes to begin training for the upcoming seasons. This year’s early return looked very different for the student athletes because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many changes were made this year in order to protect the Villanova community from the pandemic. The first change is that student athletes only returned to campus a week before classes began. In previous years, student athletes would have arrived right after the start of the new year. Another significant difference was the number of student-athletes arriving early. Previously, only athletes playing in spring and winter sports would return to campus before the start of the spring semester. This year, however, due to the postponement of the fall competition season, all 24 of Villanova’s sports teams returned to campus early. Having 24 teams on campus early, training at the highest level and preparing to travel and compete in one season is an unprecedented reality. The threat
of COVID-19 is ever present and could easily turn this prospect into a logistical nightmare. To mitigate any possible complications, various sectors of the community have come together to design a ”return to play COVID protocol” to help keep Villanova’s athletes, students, staff and faculty safe. This protocol has been in effect since sports went back to training in the fall and has been modified to prepare our teams for competition. In the fall, most teams were instructed to practice in ‘pods.’ These were small groups of athletes who were allowed to interact with each other. This meant that athletes could only practice at certain times and with certain people. This was one way to ensure social distancing and to avoid crowding. It also allowed for easy contract tracing in the event of a positive COVID test. Another method used in the fall to stop the spread of COVID was to terminate the use of locker rooms. This kept student athletes out of closed spaces and meant that fewer shared surfaces were being used. Additionally, some teams had their weightlifting sessions moved from inside the weight rooms to outside in tents. Where possible, athletes were required to wear masks during their practices and to social distance. These methods were mostly successful in stopping the spread of COVID-19 among the athletes and
were practical to implement when teams were not competing and weather was slightly warmer. Currently, however, temperatures have dropped and athletes are expected to compete against other teams as a team. This means training in pods, not having access to locker rooms and lifting weights outside are no longer practical. The solution to this problem is testing two, sometimes three times a week for all student athletes, coaches and trainers. This system, along with mask wearing and social distancing when possible, has been piloted by the basketball teams when they returned to play, and it has proven to be a
mostly effective way of detecting cases early and stopping the spread of the virus. Various conferences which Villanova competes in, such as the MAAC and the Big East, have their own testing requirements for athletes heading into competition which Villanova athletes will be complying with. Finally, there is the matter of games. While athletes are ecstatic to be back in competition, it is with regret that there will be no spectator attendance at competitions. Villanova athletics recently released a statement restating that basketball games will not be allowing any spectators and that this regulation will apply to all sports.
The Finneran Pavilion will host more than basketball this semester. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Men’s Lacrosse Ranked 19th in Preseason Poll Anders Pryor Staff Writer The Villanova men’s lacrosse team is ranked number 19 in the nation. There are a slew of familiar names around them in the rankings. At number 22 is Rutgers, with Penn at 21 and Princeton at 20. Villanova comes in at 19, and the three teams directly above them are Richmond at 18, Lehigh at 17 and Army at 16. The program has been on the rise in recent years, averaging nine victories a season over the past four years. In a season as unorthodox as this, any win will be hard to come by, as the Wildcats will have a tough non-conference schedule, including Lehigh on several occasions, as well as tough familiar Big East opponents in Denver, Georgetown and Providence. The team has had very notable non-conference victories in their recent stint, including Maryland in 2017 and 2020, and Yale in 2018 and 2019. The Coaches Poll projects Villanova to finish second in the Big East behind Denver, with the Wildcats receiving two first place votes. The Wildcats are followed by the two-time defending Big East Tournament champs Georgetown in third, with the Providence Friars close behind in fourth. Marquette was projected to end the season in fifth, while St John’s was the unanimous choice to be in the league’s
basement at the conclusion of the season. Last season, the squad had four of its players selected to the all-Big East preseason team: senior Connor Kirst, redshirt junior Patrick Kennedy, junior Keegan Khan and sophomore Will Vitton. All four of these players were unanimous selections, as well as earning spots of the all-Big East 2019 regular season team. Kirst, who last year was named Big East Midfielder of the Year a season ago, was named to the All-American second team. Last season, Kennedy picked an all-Big East second team selection as well. Khan, before the halting of last season, received this same honor consecutive years in 2018 and 2019. Vitton shared with him in that regard in 2019. This season, the team will take a personnel hit, as Kirst transferred to Rutgers and was selected for pre-season All-American honors. It will be up to the other three stars of the team to help the Wildcats continue to grow as a program. However, the team will be buoyed by the addition of 11 talented freshmen, as well as a graduate transfer. Attackers Tucker Goodelle and Matt Licata infuse youth into the Wildcat offense, but the focus of Villanova’s recruiting was in the midfield. Lucas Kopecky, Tom Miller, Jack Neill, Will Wheeler and Jack Cerza will look to make an impact in midfield. Defensively, Keith Carra, Reid Colwell and Michael
Trancanna were added, and goalkeeper Nico Iacovino rounds out the new recruits. The Wildcats also welcome Jimmy McAfee, a graduate transfer from Amherst College. He’s a twotime All-American midfielder and was a captain last season. His added leadership and veteran experience will be valuable in guiding the team to wins over tougher opponents.
In such an unusual year, it will be as challenging for lacrosse as it has been for any sport across the country. But, if the Wildcats overcome adversity and stick to the attitude that has always allowed them to persevere, they should be well within the hunt for the NCAA Tournament. The ‘Cats opens its season on Feb. 13 against Delaware in Newark.
Patrick Kennedy, a preseason All-American, will lead the Wildcats this season. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
SPORTS
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Name, Image, and Likeness Coming Soon to the NCAA Noah Swan Staff Writer The NCAA made $18.9 billion in revenue during 2019. Yet, not a cent of that was given to any of the more than 480,000 athletes who take part in college athletics under the domain of the NCAA. Although rumors of illicit payments surface during every recruiting season, amateurism stands strong as a pillar of college athletics. However, the winds of change are whistling in the ears of the NCAA. Name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation is banging on the doors of the NCAA as athletes wish to grow a personal brand. But what does NIL really mean? And what does it mean to Villanova athletes? Although paying players directly from schools poses many challenges, NIL is a more realistic path to financial benefit for student-athletes across the country. At its core, NIL involves the ability of an athlete to profit from endorsements, private lessons
and autograph sessions. For example, Clemson star Trevor Lawrence could host a quarterback camp, or Iowa basketball player Luka Garza could proclaim the greatness of Gatorade in an advertisement. The restrictions and benefits for athletes vary between proposals from the NCAA and congressional representatives. The NCAA’s most recent release would restrict an athlete’s interactions with an agent as well as the use of the athlete’s school in promotions, and it would allow the school to veto any potential NIL deals. The document also introduces a watchdog party to oversee any NIL deals. This aspect is especially important given the amount of money floating around college athletics. Auburn University recently paid more than $20 million to fire its head football coach, Gus Malzahn. Although Malzahn enjoyed success at the school, a small group of boosters quickly raised $10 million to assist with the buyout. This is evidence that boosters in college athletics are wealthy and hungry for
success at the highest level. Illegal payments to recruits disguised by NIL could quickly shift the competitive dynamic of nearly every college sport. So, while the NCAA may receive fair criticism for dragging its feet on this issue, there are monumental implications to legislative action. After tabling the proposal in January of this year, the NCAA has shifted the burden of this decision to Congress. NIL legislation from Washington D.C. varies across the aisle. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat and former Stanford college football player, is a sponsor for a bill termed “a college athletes bill of rights,” per Sports Illustrated. Although this measure extends beyond NIL, it is emblematic of the current shift in power in college athletics. The bill introduces more ways for athletes to earn money, including group licensing deals which could allow the return of the beloved NCAA video game series. On the other side of the divide, Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, hands the power to the NCAA to delegate NIL rights. With the help of the Federal Trade Commission, the NCAA under RuVillanova athletes will soon be able to receive compensation for their NIL. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics bio’s proposal would have the say over
Big East to Finish Meghann Morhardt Staff Writer Continued from p. 1
The teams will play two games against each team in their division, both at the same site. Villanova is in the East division, along with Seton Hall, UConn, St. John’s and Providence. The Wildcats will host Seton Hall and UConn, and they will travel to Providence and St. John’s. With UConn rejoining the Big East, this will be the first time the two teams have met since 2017. Villanova won the last matchup 3-0. UConn volleyball has faced some struggles in the past few years, with their last winning season being 2016. Villanova’s non-conference opponents include University of Delaware, Pitt, George Mason and LaSalle. These games are not regulated by the Big East, so the format will not be quite the same. The ‘Cats will play both Delaware and LaSalle twice, but play one game at home and one on the road for each opponent.
Coaches Poll Selects Second in Preseason
NCAA still has not released a final decision. Courtesy of VU Hoops
any NIL deals, a curious concession given prior struggles to implement a NIL structure in college athletics. These two examples prove the web of complexity encapsulating NIL laws and the difference in opinions among competing parties. So, what does this look like for Villanova athletics? The short answer is not much right now. NCAA president Mark Emmert approached Congress for help with this issue in late 2019. Florida, Colorado and California have all passed NIL legislation at the state level, with Florida’s law going into effect this July. At the earliest, it will likely be late 2021 to early 2022 before NIL deals affect Villanova. However, athletes in Florida may be able to pocket NIL money ahead of athletes in any other state. The University of Florida has already announced new programs designed to build brands for their athletes per 247Sports. The tone of recruiting pitches will adapt as schools, including Villanova, establish different avenues for their athletes to profit to maintain athletic competitiveness. Do not be surprised if you see Jay Wright’s next great point guard hit a game-winning three , then sport his Villanova uniform in a brand-new Toyota Corolla.
Volleyball Standings
Last year, Villanova finished with an overall record of 22-9, 13-5 in conference play and finished third in the Big East. The team lost five seniors last season including Emma Decker, who holds the Villanova record for most career assists, and stand-out players Regan Lough and Allie Olsonoski. The ‘Cats will look to fill these key roles with returning players as well as the seven new freshmen that they added to the team during the offseason. Preseason awards and coaches polls came out last week and given the new structure, the team rankings are based on the divisions rather than the conference as a whole. In the East division, the Wildcats were picked to finish second, with St. John’s predicted to come in on top. The Wildcats received one first place vote, while St. John’s earned the other four. The ‘Cats split their regular season series with the Red Storm last year, with each team winning one match. This should make for more competitive matches this The ’Cats will play La Salle in their first match up. spring while Villanova tries to beat Courtesy of Villanova Athletics out St. John’s for the division title.
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