WEDNESDAY APRIL 6, 2022 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
VOLUME 114 | ISSUE 10
Opinion: Better Final Four Transport Needed
Campus Mourns After Final Four Loss
Kai da Luz Staff Writer
Without a doubt, nothing makes someone more proud to be a Wildcat than a March Madness run like this year. Though we did not get the result we wanted, in the end, Villanovans should take pride in the performance of this year’s Big East Champions in making it to the Final Four. After Villanova’s astounding victory over Houston in the Elite Eight, members of Nova Nation poured out of the Game Watch in the Villanova Room, gathering around the Oreo. Full of passion and pride, many students immediately whipped out their phones. Through the haze of music, megaphones and collegiate screaming, they were somehow able to open up the Nova Athletics Student Tickets App and enter the lottery, with hopes of winning their own tickets to the Final Four. When the lottery results came out on Sunday, Mar. 27, the lucky winners naturally jumped for joy, while those not so fortunate decided their lives were over because obviously, the world was out to get them. However, even for the winners, some smiles quickly turned to frowns and furrowed brows as they began to plan their trip. The price of the student ticket for lottery winners was only $40 for the semifinal game, with a complimentary ticket to the championship game, should Villanova advance. While the cost of the ticket is not problematic, the transportation costs to get to New Orleans was hefty. Continued on p. 6
Sarah Wisniewski Co-News Editor Vivi Melkonian Co-Editor-In-Chief
University students experienced a true Final Four weekend filled with game watches, excitement, heartbreak and most of all, increased police presence. According to CBS3, more than 10,000 fans were expected to be in the area of the University’s campus. In preparation for what could have been joyous celebrations, the
Students in New Orleans boo during Villanova’s Final Four loss to Kansas. Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography
Radnor Township Police Department collaborated with about a dozen other police departments, as well as Public Safety. In 2016 and 2018, police were presented with the challenge of subduing large, sometimes rowdy crowds. Due to past experiences, the department chose to grease the traffic poles on Lancaster Avenue. The Radnor Police Department also alerted residents of potential road closures and traffic detours. “On Saturday, Apr. 2, 2022, the Villanova University Men’s Basketball Team will be playing in the
NCAA Final Four Tournament,” the RPD Instagram read. “There will be increased police presence in and around the Villanova University Campus and along Lancaster Avenue into the late evening hours on Saturday… Neighbors of the University should note, the Villanova Stadium lights will remain on until the commencement of all events for safety purposes.” Due to the team’s loss, activities were limited following the game. Many students retreated back to their dorms or apartments. Students could be seen
leaving the game watch in the Finneran Pavilion with their heads down and overheard listing all opportunities the men’s team had to win. Not surprisingly, many students were discussing the impact of Justin Moore’s injury while leaving the game watch. Freshmen were excited to experience the excitement of March Madness but upset with the outcome. “Walking out of the Finn, there were a lot of sad faces,” said freshman Ava Towers. “It was hard for people to be proud of
game exactly once. It was the most hyped up game of the season, though I don’t remember who we were even playing now. The experience was one that picking a word like
“abysmal” or “horrid” would actually misrepresent it. Sure, it was pretty terrible. Most of all, though, it was simply forgettable. The entire game, my group of
friends were seated, talking about anything but the game, in the small and rafter-relegated student section William & Mary saw fit to give us in the much-larger-than-The-Pavilion Kaplan Arena. Needless to say, I was unmoved by the experience, and never once made the two minute walk to Kaplan ever again during my year there. Fast forward a few months, I visited some friends from high school who went to Villanova over winter break. Continued on p. 7
Continued on p. 2
Class of ‘22: Dear ‘Nova Basketball, Thank You Jack Roberge
Editor Emeritus Each year on Jan. 2, I get a Snapchat memory from my freshman year that makes me laugh a bit. It’s simply a picture of The Finn from the student section, but the caption I chose was “wrong school lol.” I made the mistake of starting my collegiate experience elsewhere. My first school lacked community and had virtually no sports to speak of. I tried going to a basketball
Although the team fell just short, the Wildcats made Villanova proud. Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale/Villanovan Photography
Olympian Speaks On Campus p. 3
University Hosts Discussion on War in Ukraine p. 4
Too Hot to Handle: Switch HVAC to Cooling p. 5
Will D Cat Exclusive: The Mascot Unmasked p. 8
If There’s A Will, There’s A Way: Students Trek to NOLA p. 9
“Curtains” Opens At The Mullen Center p. 10
Augustinians of Villanova: Fr. Joe Calderone p. 10
Athlete of the Week: Chris Rotondo p. 13
Men’s Track and Field Competes Across East Coast p. 14
Women’s Tennis Loses Twice p. 15