Valentines of Villanova

Maddie Schieder Staff Writer

Holy Grounds’ muffins are not the only things that are sweet on campus this week. Love is in the air for Valentine’s Day. The Villanovan was able to speak with a professor for their take on love, as well as interviewing one of the University’s cutest couples.

Dr. Caitlyn Yantis is a professor at Villanova in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. She teaches a social psychology course that includes a section on attraction and relationships, which is why The Villanovan wanted her thoughts on the “science of love,” especially amongst college students.

“You may have heard the phrase ‘opposites attract,’ but in reality, the research shows that it is much more common for us to be attracted to people who are similar to us,” said Yantis. “Those with a similar background, values, interests and personality as us.”

College students are often eager to meet their true love and use a variety of methods to get there, including assuming that opposites attract. It may be surprising to hear that the path to meeting our “one

Tallulah Laska Staff Writer

Dance teams are not unheard lanova, as there are eight different dance groups on campus.

‘Nova Nassa is Villanova’s only coed Bollywood fusion dance team, consisting of 20 individuals.

“Nassa combines elements of classical Indian, Bollywood and hip-hop dance set to a blend of beats reminiscent of Indian roots fused with the modern hip-hop of our Western culture,” Nassa’s description reads. “In combining these various styles of dance, Nassa brings to the stage an exciting and energetic performance that crosses continents and the boundaries of traditional dance leaving you mesmerized and breathless.”

Nassa is in its 15th season of competition, competing in the Desi Dance Network (DDN) circuit. DDN is a circuit of competitions across the United States and Canada. Nassa competes in the spring season against many other collegiate teams. In early February, Nassa attended competitions in Illinois and at Virginia Tech.

In the fall, Nassa spent 1012 hours per week practicing for the competition season. Planning competitions and choreography takes up much of their weekly practice and only” entails doing just the opposite.

“One reason why we are often attracted to people who are similar to us is because they make us feel validated in our own existing attitudes and viewpoints,” said Yantis. This research Dr. Yantis speaks of can be shown in one of the cutest couples on campus. Senior Emily Gallagher spoke to The Villanovan about her relationship with her boyfriend, Ren Shenk, and we are feeling all the feels.

“Ren and I met through NOVAdance, where we were on videography committee together and also club volleyball,” Gallagher said.

When asked if she thought that Villanova is a place for soulmates to meet, Gallagher said, “Definitely. Villanova gives you the opportunity to meet people with shared interests in on-campus groups or organizations, like Ren and I did. Villanova also allows you to meet people from across the country who you would’ve likely