The Villanovan | Volume 115, Issue 4: Feb. 22, 2023

Student’s Mom Runs for President

Cate McCusker Senior Editor

Last week, Republican Nikki Haley, former South Carolina Governor and U.N. Ambassador, announced her 2024 presidential campaign.

On Presidents’ Day, The Villanovan spoke to Villanova junior Nalin Haley, the son of Nikki Haley, to talk about what it’s like to have a parent run for president.

Unsurprisingly, Haley is a political science major at Villanova, but he says he would have chosen that major even if his mom didn’t work in politics.

Haley went to high school in New York, while his mom worked at the UN, and now he lives in Columbia, South Carolina. He explained that growing up with a high profile politician parent was, well, different.

“It was definitely weird, because there’s a lot of kids that will definitely try to get stuff out of you,” he explained. “You always have to, like, look out for who to trust….But I mean, for the most part, I feel like I’ve lived a pretty normal childhood, as normal as it could get.”

Haley explained that he likes to keep a small circle, and he values the friends that just see him as himself.

“A lot of people will have these assumptions… but I haven’t even had a conversation with them,” he said. “There’s always gonna be people out there that will treat you differently, but on the whole (at Villanova), I feel like this community’s been very good to me.”

His relationship with his mother is also

Continued on p. 3

“Is Liberal an Insult?”: Recap of LePage Center Webinar p. 4

Liberalism Under Attack! ... Just Kidding p. 9

Armed Robbery on SEPTA Triggers

“This is a message from Nova Alert,” the ominous recorded message rang on Tuesday night. “Shelter in place. Radnor Police have received a report of a robbery with a firearm on the R100 Commuter Train.”

At 11:15 p.m. on Valentine’s Day, the Villanova community was notified of an attempted robbery that occurred on the train that runs between South Campus and the Commons. According to Nova Alert, the suspect produced a gun from his backpack and attempted to rob the train conductor

before fleeing on foot near the Commons and over the pedestrian bridge.

“At approximately 20:24 hours, Radnor Police were notified via radio,” Christopher Flanagan, Superintendent of Radnor Police, said. “Radnor police, who happened to have multiple officers at the Villanova basketball game, converged on the station and learned that a subject allegedly pulled a handgun, kicked out a window and a disturbance occurred on the train.”

According to the University, Villanova was notified by Radnor Police about the incident at 10:40 p.m., and they aided in the search.

“Officers set up a pe-

rimeter assisted by Haverford, Lower Merion [and] Villanova, looking for the subject,” Flanagan said. “A search of the area was conducted and it was believed that the subject had gotten through the perimeter prior to it being established…once we released the scene at midnight, we believed that the offender had left the area and there was no danger to the community.”

Flanagan explained that Radnor Police would be adding patrols in the areas of train stations, and he urged students to reach out if they had any concerns.

“You can always come and talk to us if you have concerns in the community, so always reach out,”

he said. “Radnor police are always there and we’re happy to help anybody, including students, navigate a problem before it becomes an issue. “

Although the message was released after midnight, the Villanova community did not receive any additional updates until seven hours after the original alert.

“Shelter in place lifted,” the Nova Alert read on Wednesday morning at 6:15 a.m. “Classes and other University business will take place as scheduled today. As an update, police searched the area on and around campus throughout the night but did not locate the suspect. We therefore do not believe that he is still in the area.”

India Spellman Exonerated

Isabella Balian Staff Writer

History was made last week when India Spellman became the first woman, and first Black woman, to be exonerated from prison in Philadelphia history. On February 9th of last week, Spellman’s wrongful conviction was overturned, bringing a moment of pure relief and justice to Spellman, her family and the greater Philadelphia community.

At only 17 years old,

Students React: MSU

Shooting, Gun Violence on College Campuses p. 5

A Tale of Metamorphosis: Villanova Theater’s Chrysalis p. 9

Spellman was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder, tried as an adult, convicted and

police, her alibis were forgotten and she was unfairly tried.

“India is an innocent

Continued on p. 3

of crimes that she did not commit,” PJP Director and Villanova professor Dr. Jill McCorkel said. “After 13 years of fighting and maintaining her innocence and never giving up hope, [Spellman] was finally, finally able to take back a measure of justice for herself and her family. And she was able to do so as the world watched.”

After years of protest, petitioning and fighting for justice, Spellman was finally released by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Continued on p. 2.

The Need For Greater Gun Control in the U.S. p. 6

Conn At Night: Winter Gala in Review p. 10

Students Leaves of Absences Should Be Made Easier p. 6

Men’s Track Breaks Distance Medley Relay Record p. 12

Eagles Fans: Monsters or Men? p. 7

THE BACKPAGE: Crossword, Comic, & Ask The Villanovan p. 15

Cate McCusker Senior Editor

Courtesy of Philly Justice Project / Instagram

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

Harassment/Terrorist Threats/Theft by Deception

February 6-12, STANFORD HALL

A resident student reported they were the victim of an internet scam after being threatened to complete a transfer of money. The total value of the loss is $1,550.

Aggravated Assault/Terroristic Threats

February 14-15, COMMONS SEPTA Radnor Twp received a report of an armed subject on the R100 Septa line at the Aldwyn Station who threatened a train conductor.

Harassment

February 14-15, MULLEN CENTER

An employee reported being physically struck by another employee.

CORRECTIONS

Theft by Deception

February 12-15, CONNELLY CENTER

A female resident student reported being the victim of an internet scam. The total amount of the loss is $450.00.

Disorderly Conduct/Criminal Mischief/Liquor Underage

February 16, TRINITY HALL

A male resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication after he was observed damaging university property inside of his residence hall room.

Carrying a False ID/Liquor Underage/Public Drunkenness/ Public

Urination

February 16, L-4 LANCASTER RES. HALL LOT

One male resident student under the age of 21 was evaluated for alcohol intoxication after being observed urinating in public. The student was also in possession of a counterfeit identification card.

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.

Spellman Exoneration

Isabella Balian Staff Writer

Continued

“After multiple additional hearings and filings by my office, a judge today finally granted Ms. Spellman the relief she is due and granted our motion to exonerate her completely,” Krasner said. “Ms. Spellman’s release from state custody is overdue. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of George Greaves.”

The family members of the victim, George Greaves, spoke out at the trial, expressing the injustices of Spellman’s conviction and how they were saddened to see her become another victim of our unjust system.

Standing behind Spellman and her moment of true justice were the members of the Philadelphia Justice Project. The Philadelphia Justice Project fights to end the mass incarceration of women and girls through direct assistance, research, public policy advocacy, education and training. This group has been advocating for Spellman’s release on and off campus to spread awareness of her case and the overall injustices within Philadelphia’s criminal justice system.

“[Villanova’s Philadelphia Justice Project] really prioritized getting not only her name out in the public, but also highlighting the major issues surrounding her wrongful imprisonment,” student president of PJP Ajee Robinson said. “We wanted people to clearly see that this was a 17-year-old young girl who had absolutely nothing to do with these crimes yet has been imprisoned for over a decade for them.”

Members of the Philadelphia Justice Project attended Spellman’s hearing at 9 a.m. on February 9th and were overjoyed to see the true freedom that Spellman would finally be granted.

“It was so rewarding, especially to see all of her loved ones there as [Spellman] was [freed],” PJP member Zoe Kim said. “Everyone was so excited for her and relieved that India would finally be free after so many years of being wrongfully convicted. Leaving the courtroom after she was exonerated was one of the best feelings. For me and so

many others in PJP, it was an experience that has shaped our view of the justice and prison systems in America.”

Krasner’s statement and action to release Spellman represents a monumental moment in history in accordance with gender and racial disparities.

“I’m also hoping that this case will showcase how racism and sexism contribute to wrongful convictions in ways that are particularly pernicious to women of color,” McCorkel said. “What happened to [Spellman] is an example of police and prosecutorial violence against Black women. Police and prosecutors had good reason to believe that [Spellman] was innocent at the time of these crimes but they threw her life away anyway. That is unconscionable. It is also unconscionable that they cared so little about public safety and about the justice owed to the victim, Mr. Greaves, and his family that they did.”

When examining Spellman’s case, intersectionality cannot be ignored, as racial inequities within the criminal justice system still prevail. PJP members recognize the way in which gender and race are important factors in convictions, and especially wrongful convictions.

“Women, especially Black women, are continually forgotten about, silenced, and disregarded when it comes to correcting injustice,” Robinson said. “On a more personal level, as a Black woman I have always understood the power and importance of fighting for people who look like me. Ultimately, there is nothing that separates me from [Spellman]. Early on, I faced the harsh reality that, as a Black woman in America, I could have very well been the one in [Spellman’s] situation. So, when you realize your proximity to something as troubling as [Spellman’s] case, you really reflect on how you would feel if no one cared about your innocence or fought to maintain it.

“[Spellman’s] exoneration means so much for women, Black women, Black women from Philadelphia, and the list goes on. But ultimately, her exoneration proves that their voices, their stories, their freedom, their happiness, and their lives matter—and I am so honored that, as a Black woman, I got to be a small piece in affirming that.”

Success at Career Fair

Jamie Galloway Staff Writer

Villanova undergraduate students gathered in the Villanova Room for the 2023 Spring Career Fairs on February 15th and 16th, connecting them to more than 144 employers and opportunities for full-time jobs and internships.

Eager candidates dressed in business attire and delivered their most suitable elevator pitches to companies, hoping to acquire full-time positions or internships.

There were three different fairs, which provided multiple professional opportunities for students, regardless of their majors. On Wednesday, the Full-Time Career Fair took place from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the Internship Fair took place from 3:00 to 6:00 PM. The Engineering & Science Career Fair was from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Thursday.

Villanova’s Career Center, a resource for students that manages hundreds of events and programs in collaboration with employers and alumni, organized the fair. Students used the Handshake app to register for the event and learn more about the employers.

Upon arrival, students could hang up their coats and print out tags stating their names, majors and years. There were multiple Career Center team members to help students navigate the fair. They were easy to find as they were wearing blue Villanova shirts.

Students received informative packets of all employers at the fair. The packets included details, such as company descriptions, job types, fairs they were attending and booth numbers.

144 companies attended this event. Employers set up posters, scattered flyers along the tables and handed out personalized merchandise to best promote their company.

The events and operations manager at the Career Center, Maura Jackman, said that the team started planning for the fair in mid-October. When asked how they recruit companies, she said many reach out themselves. The University works with many as partners, and many have University alumni as employees.

Janine Riccardi, events and operations specialist, explained that the primary goal of the event was to kick off a career search and allow networking for a job or internship. Many students were triumphant as they were offered interviews or potential positions.

Pierce Munsey, a sophomore, reported his achievements.

“I was able to practice my elevator pitch to a wide variety of different employers,” Munsey said. “This was great practice for me because I learned how to properly customize my pitch depending on whom I was speaking with.”

The event was well-promoted across campus and the event had a substantial outcome. Professional development classes also promoted the fairs in class.

Sophomore David Lasak shared how he knew about the event.

“Although it was a mandatory event for my class, I wanted to talk to employers and practice my elevator pitch,” he said.

The wide variety of employers allowed all undergraduate students to explore their interests. The Career Center will likely start planning the Fall Career Fair within the next few weeks.

Armed Robbery Triggers Shelter in Place Order

Cate McCusker Senior Editor

The Villanovan was able to speak to a few students who shared their experience that evening.

Freshmen Maggie Wilson and Emily Mainwald were on their way to the library from South Campus at around 10:30 p.m. when they saw a large police presence.

“We went up the stairs [to the bridge], and when we were right above the train tracks we saw police cars coming down behind Commons,” Wilson said. “They got out of their cars with flashlights, and they were looking underneath cars and in bushes.”

At this point, Wilson and Mainwald had no information on the incident, so they continued on their way to the library.

“When we got to the library, everyone knew something was going on, but they didn’t know what,” Mainwald said. “Then people got the text and everyone’s like, oh my goodness, like check your phone.”

They explained that they felt safe since the doors to the library were locked, and they saw Public Safety officers walking throughout the library.

“A little bit after the alert came out, two police officers came

upstairs, and they went in opposite directions,” Mainwald said. “They were just walking around… and they were checking that the doors were locked.”

Wilson and Mainwald explained that their friends saw vans and public safety vehicles escorting students home around 12:30 a.m. Then, at around 12:50 a.m., a library employee approached the pair and said that they were all clear, so Wilson and Mainwald walked home from the library to South Campus.

Wilson and Mainwald commented that they were confused about the timing of the evening and the lack of information communicated.

“We got the shelter in place [notification at 11:15 p.m.], but my video was taken at 10:29 [p.m.],” Wilson said. “They knew what had gone wrong. So like, what were they doing?”

“I know people were wishing that there was an update, even though [the shelter-in-place] wasn’t lifted,” explained Mainwald. “Maybe at like 12:30 a.m., 12:45 a.m. or 1 a.m., because it was kind of late, and people were trying to plan what they were going to do.”

Sophomores Kirsten Yager and Liz Miller were in the Alumni gym at a club sports practice when they got the Nova Alert.

“We were like, okay, let’s close the door, and then we realized

the door to the Alumni gym does not lock,” Yager said.

Yager, Miller and a few other members of the club decided that hiding in the hallway was the best spot they could find. They called Public Safety.

“They said, ‘Stay where you are, don’t leave, we’re working on it,’” Yager said. “‘We have officers out patrolling.”

For the next hour or so, the women continued to call Public Safety to ask for a walk back to their dorms because they did not feel safe, but Public Safety did not escort them back.

“We were like, ‘Hey we had heard that people are getting shuttled from the library back to wherever they need to be,’” Miller said, hoping to be able to get on a shuttle, as well. “But the guy was just like, ‘You’re on a list. We know you’re there. You’re on a list.’”

However, the women never made it off that list. At around 1:15 a.m., their friend, sophomore Brandon Nesmith, came to walk them back to their dorms.

“We were like sitting ducks,” Yager said. “We could not lock ourselves off. That’s what really bothers me, that we didn’t feel like a concern for them.”

In the future, Yager and Miller believe that Villanova should make sure all doors can be locked, and that there are more call boxes

available for students who need help.

“We’re an open campus,” Yager said. “There needs to be locks on all the buildings…there are students in these areas late at night, and that could’ve easily taken a wrong turn.”

All four of the students spoken to also commented on how there are only a few call boxes on campus. When asked to speak on the lack of communication, Villanova Chief of Police David Tedjeske issued a statement.

“When the University sends a Nova Alert for an incident like this, we are required by the Clery Act to use the same method to communicate the all-clear,” Tedjeske said. “First, we were not comfortable doing this in the middle of the night, given that the individual was still at-large. Second, since there was nothing new to report and no new information to suggest it was all-clear, it did not seem warranted to send a Nova Alert blast text message/phone call to 14,000 people at 3 a.m. Instead, we sent the Nova Alert at 6:15 a.m., notifying our community that the shelter in place was lifted and that classes and other University business would take place as scheduled.”

On Thursday evening, Tedjeske alerted students that the Radnor Police Department is still searching for Mr. Ishmael Isaac Marshall, 28, of Philadelphia, PA in connection with the incident.

A Conversation With Nalin Haley: Nikki Haley’s Son

Cate McCusker Senior Editor

just like anyone else’s. That relationship is seen in how supportive she was in his decision to come to Villanova.

“She had like a little Villanova pin, and she kept it by her bed every day,” Haley said, “Somehow she just knew that I was gonna go.”

His relationship with her is also shown through his strong support of her deciding to run. If he, and the rest of the Haley family, didn’t want Nikki Haley to run for president, she wouldn’t have done it.

“She’s always going to be a mom first, before anything,” he said, explaining that his family made this decision together, not too long ago.“She wouldn’t have done it if just one of us said no… It took the four of us.”

Haley is excited for his mom’s campaign, and although he knows it’s a long road ahead, he’s ready. He spoke proudly of her political career, specifically discussing her time as the governor of South Carolina.

“I’ve seen how she can react in difficult situations,” he said, referencing the historic flood in South Carolina in 2015 and the shooting at a Church in Charleston in which a white supremacist killed nine Black parishioners. “Just seeing how she handled that, how she put her citizens first… how she was able to hold the state together.”

Haley has been helping his

mom during her campaign, and he plans to do more work on the campaign this summer.

“I finally won’t have school, so I can give everything,” he said, noting that he’ll have to pick up another job as well. “Then I’m going to work as a towel boy, because I have to make money.”

While he does fear for his mom’s physical safety sometimes, what mostly bothers him is the media.

“When you’re on the inside looking out, you realize how inaccurate things are,” he said.

“It becomes where you feel like they’re making the story rather than telling it, so that’s the frustrating part, it’s just a lot of the lies because you can’t do anything about it.”

CNN anchor Don Lemon recently commented on Haley’s campaign announcement. He specifically called for a new generation of politicians, as he said that she wasn’t “in her prime.” Haley was annoyed by Lemon’s comments, but he knows his mom is strong and that those comments wouldn’t bother her.

“A lot of people are… gonna come after her,” he acknowledged. “There’s nothing she can’t handle. I mean, criticism just bounces off of her.”

One of Haley’s biggest competitors in the primary will be former president Donald Trump, who is known for his aggressive rhetoric and nicknames for his opponents, including “sleepy Joe,” “crooked Hillary” and “Ron DeSanctimonious.”

Trump and Haley have an interesting relationship. Haley

endorsed Marco Rubio in 2016, but she became the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 2017 under the Trump Administration, and now she is running against him.

Haley explained that he was not worried about what Trump’s rhetoric will be like towards his mother, and he also turned down the speculation that she could be looking to be Vice President if Trump wins the primary.

“We don’t go for a second place,” he said firmly. “We go for first.”

Haley got some pushback online this fall after speaking at a campaign event for Dr. Oz, the Republican candidate for the Senate, when she said she worried about her son every time he steps off campus. Although Haley was criticized for her remarks, due to Villanova’s location on the wealthy Main Line, Haley stood up for his mother.

“She’s doing her job as a mom to worry,” he explained. “I feel like, yes, while this is a relatively safe

and if you even looked at what happened on campus, we had a lockdown, and no one would think that would happen in the area like this. She’s not wrong for worrying.”

Haley declined to comment on his mother’s statement that America is not a racist country during her campaign announcement, but he did want to add clarification on her call for term limits for Congress and for mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old. Donald Trump is 76, and at 80 years old Joe Biden is the oldest person to hold the presidency.

“It’s about transparency in government and giving it back to the people instead of keeping it with older politicians in Washington who make laws that won’t even affect them,” he commented. If his mom does end up winning the election in 2024, Haley doesn’t expect much to change for them.

“Our family is always gon

Nikki Haley spoke at an event at Villanova in December. Courtesy of the Charles Widger School of Law

Annual Gender and Women’s Studies Conference

Katie Reed News Columnist

On Friday, Feb. 10, the University hosted its annual Gender and Women’s Studies (GWS) Conference from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Connelly Center. Graduate and undergraduate Villanovans, in addition to students from nearby colleges, were invited to share their work relating to the GWS discipline and present to their peers during a series of panels.

Panels throughout the day were guided by themes such as “Relationships, Families, Communities” and “Feminist and Queer Theory,” and the conference concluded with a Performance Showcase in the Connelly Cinema.

Dr. Lauren Shohet, a professor in the English Department, is the chair for the conference. She provided insight into the process of organizing the conference and changes from last year’s event.

“The steering committee has a conference call in the fall where we look at who we might want to bring as a keynote, which helps to organize the overall conference,” Shohet said. “We then make a timetable for when to remind students and colleagues to have a look out for likely work to present. This year at that meeting, I also proposed a number of experimental changes that we might make.”

These changes sought to elicit more engagement during the panels, such as having presenters

organize their discussion around two key questions, providing reflection questions and a booklet for note taking to all attendees.

The keynote speaker who served as a focal point for this year’s conference was Dr. Emma Heaney, the Associate Director and Clinical Assistant Professor of the XE Program in Experimental and Social Engagement at New York University. Shohet spoke to what made Heaney’s keynote address, entitled “Literature Against Cisness” and grounded in trans studies, so compelling, as it revealed the prevalence of trans and queer identities throughout modernist and contemporary literature.

“I think that in trans studies generally, it’s an important intellectual and ideological gesture just to counter the false claim that it’s a brand-new thing, that nobody was ever trans until three years ago,” Shohet said. “I think these projects [like Heaney’s] of just showing that threaded throughout very familiar, modernist texts, as well as lesser read ones, there’s all kinds of indices of trans experience is exciting.”

Senior Molly Carriero was also in attendance at the GWS Conference and presented her work there. She was a part of the panel with the theme “Representation and Intersectionality,” in which she talked about her paper entitled “Unsettling Feminism: Settler Colonialism, Gender, and Violence.”

“My work focused on understanding how heteronormativity in

North America is a product of settler colonialism through studying the work of Leanne Simpson, a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg writer,” Carriero said. “In my research, I worked to understand how and why settler feminism is often wrong in its approach to gender equality.”

Carriero had a very positive experience presenting at the conference and enjoyed having the chance to discuss her work with others.

“It was a great feeling to share work I am passionate about with an audience of similarly passionate individuals,” Carriero said. “I especially enjoyed listening to my fellow presenters on my panel and hearing about the work they do. I would describe the energy in the room as curious and supportive.”

Carriero also spoke very highly of the other panels she attended and the conference in general, noting that among all who attended, “there was a strong sense of respect and enthusiasm.”

“The conference had an incredibly inviting and accepting atmosphere,” Carriero added. “Everyone was eager not only to share their work and findings, but to learn something new from those around them. After hearing about the work done by my fellow students, I felt refreshed, revitalized, and inspired to continue work in the area of gender studies.”

Shohet shared a similar sentiment, praising all of the students for their impressive work and noting how exciting it was to see many different

departments and disciplines represented at the conference. She also mentioned that there is still room for students to grow for next year.

“I thought there was lots of lively conversation, [but] I’d like people to keep working on how to engage one another,” Shohet said. “In some of the panels I went to, people asked great questions and seemed to feel quite comfortable getting into the conversations, and in some of the other panels, people felt like they were still learning those skills.”

For those looking to improve upon those skills or might be interested in joining the GWS community, Shohet offered some words of advice, echoing the sentiment of Caterina Deuser, VU ’22, who served as the Alumnx speaker at the conference.

“I thought our Alumnx speaker Cat Deuser articulated better than I ever could the excitement of pursuing coursework, a minor, or a major in GWS, [which involves] giving you a vocabulary for drawing connections among different courses and different questions,” Shohet said. “My advice for people who are curious about GWS is go take a course with an attribute and see what excites you in it.”

The GWS Conference takes place each spring, so those who find themselves engaging critically with or being excited by disciplines related to gender studies, should be on the lookout for the application process or attending a panel.

Is “Liberal” An Insult?: Recap of LePage Center Webinar

Zoe Garrett Staff Writer

Villanova’s Albert LePage Center for History in the Public Interest recently hosted an interesting webinar entitled “When did ‘Liberal’ Become a Dirty Word?” It discussed the history of liberalism and how the term has changed to become an insult. Three esteemed professors from other universities contributed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how this history connects to the modern political climate.

Dr. Helena Rosenblatt, a professor of history, political science and French at the City University of New York, opened the panel with a brief history of the creation of the word “liberalism,” tracing back to the French Revolution.

At the time, a person who abided by “liberal” principles was one who wanted to replace monarchy by divine right with constitutional government and, through a “revolution of media,” as Rosenblatt puts it, was attacked for believing so.

In this extremely polarized context, the word “liberal” was associated with heresy and absurdity, and was used by counter revolutionaries to vilify their opponents.

Dr. David Greenberg, a professor of history at Rutgers University, continued the conversation by explaining how this “attack” on liberals parallels not only the political climate of today, but also that of the 20th century.

Greenberg stated the emergence of the “New Left” in the

United States in 1965 included individuals who, through use of sometimes violent demonstrations and candid declarations of governmental structures as “shams,” were deemed “radical liberals” by the conservative coalition that continued growing throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Such an unreserved movement allowed Republican presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan to facilitate the narrative of disdain towards liberalism.

Dr. Nicole Hemmer, an associate professor of history at Vanderbilt University, contextualized this political tension within the 1990s and the 2000s. She argued that through the end of the Cold War the partisan sort and rise of rightwing media, a common distaste for communism, a term sometimes considered with liberalism, further bonded the conservative coalition against liberals and spurred a continued attack on the group.

This binary was further exacerbated by the partisan sort of liberals and conservatives into the democratic and republican parties respectively, and also by the prevalence of conservative media, broadcasting critiques of liberalism all over the country. The professors explored not only the historical context of the negative connotations of the word “liberalism,” but also the multiple meanings that the word can hold.

Kara McGoldrick, a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, thought that the multifaceted essence of the word was interesting.

“I appreciated the distinction made between ‘liberal’ in reference to the political ideologies associated with the Democratic party and ‘liberal’ in a more philosophical sense, describing the U.S. as a liberal nation overall,” McGoldrick said.

Indeed, this differentiation makes clear the specific definition of the word commentators of American politics often use when observing the past and current tension between liberals and conservatives.

Dr. Paul Rosier, a professor of history at Villanova University and director of the LePage Center, organized the webinar and found it both interesting and informative.

“It was a highly stimulating discussion,” Rosier noted. “[The discussion] between the panelists that followed the individual presentations

was both engaging and enlightening.”

He also stated the importance of the relevance the topic has to the modern day political climate.

“The panelists emphasized… the opposition [to liberalism] this history has engendered in the 21st century from critics on both the right and the left,” Rosier said.

This parallelism was perhaps one of the most important takeaways from this webinar. The connections between the history of liberalism as an insult and how these themes present themselves today are crucial in understanding political discourse, especially within the polarizing atmosphere between parties.

A member of the panel speaks during the LePage Center’s panel. Brian Luppy/ Villanovan Photography

Students React: Gun Violence on College Campuses

Arden West Co-News Editor

“Secure-in-Place immediately. Run, Hide, Fight.” These were instructions in an alert issued to Michigan State University by the police late last Monday night — instructions that every student fears.

February 13, a gunman opened fire at Michigan State University (MSU), killing three students and critically injuring five more. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a confrontation with law enforcement. Both of the shooter’s guns were legally purchased.

MSU Students have spent the past week coming to terms with the tragedy that took place on their campus and are grieving together. Flocking to two iconic campus spots, people have covered what’s known as “The Rock” and the “Sparty” statue in flowers as they paid their respects. Online tributes to the three students have quickly gone viral, as they communicate how bright, kind and loved these people were and how even just one human can be integral to a community.

However, it is not just the Spartan community that reckons with this immeasurable loss, it’s the entire nation. President Biden called for legislative gun reform, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer spoke at MSU and numerous corporations, organizations and nonprofits put out statements of solidarity. But the shooting’s impact is felt most deep-

community.

“The Rock” is a boulder that has been at Michigan State since 1873 and was the location of the MSU vigil this past Wednesday night. It is the same spot where a vigil was held for the victims of the Oxford High School shooting that took the lives of four, just a little more than a year ago.

“How many more?” demands the clear message that sprawls across “The Rock.”

It is a question that many asked themselves as it came to light that multiple Michigan State students have now experienced two or more school shootings in their lifetimes. A horrifying sense of familiarity rippled through some in that very crowd at the vigil as they remembered their similar experiences just years or months earlier.

“That’s the chilling part,” a Villanova sophomore who wished to keep themself anonymous said. “Shootings have become all too common in our lives and it’s terrifying. It’s like we as teenagers and young adults are already desensitized [to extreme violence].”

Alongside the greater college community, Villanova has grieved the loss of these students and the topic of gun violence has once again been raised in nearly every classroom and hall as the news spread across campus.

“It touches college students a lot because the victims could have been our classmates or our friends or us and I think a lot of us realize that,” student Katherine Hoerle said.

place on earth because we live in such a bubble, but after hearing about incidents like [at MSU], it can feel much scarier because these things can happen anywhere.”

It became clear almost immediately that Villanova is not immune to these issues, as the following day, on February 14, a shelter-in-place order was issued through Nova Alert as the police received a report of a robbery with a firearm on the R100 Commuter Train that passes through Villanova’s campus.

“I was in the library when it was barricaded shut on Tuesday night, and it was pretty scary,” freshman Caroline Hisler said. “We had no idea what was going on until someone in Falvey announced out of nowhere that there was a man on campus with a gun. I called my mom and stayed on the phone with her. She was freaking out, I mean, rightly so.”

“There was a complete lack of information for us and that was what was scary,” Gracie Iannaccone added.

Many students mentioned how overwhelming it was and how they feared that it was more serious than it ended up being, especially with the shadow of the MSU shooting just hours before.

Clearly, there is a problem with gun violence in our country and on college campuses, yet Americans differ on how to deal with the issue. Disagreements mainly occur because citizens do not agree on what the root cause is.

trol [every person], and this is why I have always believed in stricter gun control laws in our country,” an anonymous student said. “Without such destructive guns, these incidents would not occur the same way and so many lives would be saved. If we can’t control the people, we need to control the weapons.”

Max Sallee, former President of the Villanova Republican Club, has contrasting views. “As long as people make this a debate about guns, nothing will change,” he said.

“The real issue is twofold: the man on our campus had prior felony convictions; he shouldn’t have a gun in the first place. The solution is not new laws that make it harder for ordinary people to own guns. Instead, we have to punish people when they commit crimes.”

“With regards to the MSU shooter, it shows yet another example of severe mental illness going untreated and leading to tragedies,” Sallee said.

The challenge for our country is to find a way forward. No one wants to take responsibility and yet everyone should. Until we all understand our role in this crisis, the problem will never end.

“The Rock” at MSU was surrounded by signs painted by mourners.

“We are stronger than this act of hatred,” one sign read. “We are family. Be there for each other. Rest in peace to those innocent souls. This must not define us, but it must inspire us because something

OPINION

The Need for Greater Gun Control in the US

Isabel Choi Staff Writer

February 13, 2023 marked a mass shooting at Michigan State University and yet another tragic event in American history. Arielle Anderson (19), Brian Fraser (20) and Alexandria Verner (20) were killed at the scene, and the gunman injured several others before taking his own life.

On Wednesday, February 15, thousands of students gathered at “The Rock,” a favorite landmark of MSU students, to honor the three lives that had been stolen. For some students, this tragedy is their second school shooting within two years, with the Oxford High School shooting occurring in November of 2021.

AJ Balinski, a Villanova freshman whose hometown is in Michigan, was shocked and sad dened by the news.

“A lot of my friends had attended Oxford before going to Michigan State, and I just can’t believe it happened again,” she said in disbelief.

The Michigan State shoot ing is just the latest example of gun violence in the United States. According to the Gun Violence

Archive, there have been 78 gun violence-related incidents in 2023, a number that will only increase. Notably, the number of deaths by gun violence from 2014 to 2020 increased from 12,418 to 19,411 deaths. These staggering numbers clearly indicate that this country has a serious problem regarding guns and gun violence.

Even in the recent Michigan State case, authorities have yet to discover how the gunman obtained his gun. According to CNN, he was previously charged with carrying a concealed weapon, but never went to trial. Another reason why a gun could have been put into the wrong hands is that the state of Michigan has no universal background checks, making it easier to acquire firearms.

and crossing the bridge. Students were told to shelter in place until authorities confirmed it was safe.

Although Balinski was sleeping when the announcement aired, she stated, “I honestly probably would have had an anxiety attack if I was awake. It was a really rough day for me that day because of what happened at home, and I don’t know what I would do if I had to handle all that in one day.”

Other Villanova students had similar opinions surrounding the case, including sophomore Mariel Persico.

“With so many recent shootings, it was really scary when we got that notification to shelter in place,” Persico said. “I just hope everything is resolved soon so we can all feel safe again on campus.”

worst, probably with influences of the MSU shooting clouding my judgment, but, nonetheless, the fear of a school shooting is very real.

As of February 16, the suspect involved in Villanova’s shelter-in-place was found to be 28-year-old Ishmael Isaac Marshall. Although Marshall’s swift course through Villanova did not result in any casualties or injuries, it is still so frightening to know that Marshall truly had the capability to harm members of our community.

In light of recent events, it is even more imperative that gun regulations and laws are made more intentionally. Although proponents of the 2nd Amendment defend the right to bear firearms for self-protection and hold historic significance, guns do not hold nearly as much cultural significance in modern-day America.

It is an unfair reality that students fear going to school because of tragic episodes of gun violence. However, that is why it is more important than ever for students to advocate for their beliefs and to mourn those who have suffered so that these tragedies do not occur in the future.

Student Leaves of Absence Should Be Made Easier

Brian Luppy Staff Writer

As we are in the midst of the second semester, prioritizing mental health can become diffi cult. At this point in the semester, professors have covered enough material to assign papers and quiz zes, and, with that, many students feel lost in a sea of stress.

Currently, we are in a mar athon of six uninterrupted weeks of school, without a single vaca tion day. As we reach the end of such a stretch, burnout becomes a real possibility. Students can feel unmotivated to complete their work, attend commitments and participate in class.

To combat such stress, everyone has their own strategies. Some choose to focus on one sub ject at a time, while others try and get everything done all at once. The rest of us work out, listen to music, talk to friends and indulge in our favorite foods.

Perhaps the most obvious coping strategy, though, is simply taking a break away from school.

If a student is not making the most of their time here and feels that their mental well-being is get ting in the way, it should become an option for students to take their own custom-length break from classes.

Unfortunately, this is not an easy option at Villanova or most other colleges across the country. Mental health advocates at Yale, however, recently won a legal battle against the University. In a lawsuit, the plaintiffs alleged that the University has discriminated

past month, the University worked with the plaintiffs to address their concerns. The general sentiment they shared was that Yale made it too difficult to take medical leaves of absence and that reinstatement requirements were too strict.

Since the case ended, several policies have been changed.

mental health-related concerns have been addressed, students and other activists react to the news.

Paul Homan, director of Mental Health and Counseling at Yale, spoke about the change.

“I really hope it helps students to take care of themselves and not feel like they are getting

caught between a lot of arcane rules,” he said. “I see this as being a fairly momentous change.”

Often, major policy changes such as this can have a snowball effect, leading to similar changes at schools across the country. Villanova should soon follow suit. However, mental health-related resources at Villanova are plentiful. Students can receive counseling at the Health Center, participate in pet therapy during finals week and attend in-person and online events regarding men -

Lime green bandanas, which represent solidarity in mental health and suicide prevention, can be seen on backpacks across campus. During orientation, multiple presentations and group discussions are given to make new students aware of all the options Villanova offers.

“I think it’s important,” freshman Ryan Clothier said. “If I ever needed one of the resources, orientation made me realize that they were all there for me.”

These resources are great, but, even still, students should be able to easily take a break from the daily academic grind. Villanova should follow Yale’s lead and implement similar changes to help those who want to take a medical leave of absence. They should be made more accessible and less daunting.

College is supposed to push us, but not to the point where it severely affects our mental health. We are at college to learn, but when academics get in the way of our mental health, we should reassess our priorities.

Students deserve accessible mental health care, including the option to take a leave of absence. Pepper Ritchey / Villanovan Photography

EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

COLIN BEAZLEY

VIVI MELKONIAN

MATT RYAN

JACKIE THOMAS

BELLA IRWIN

Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief

Associate Editor-in-Chief

Co-Opinion Editor

Co-Opinion Editor

Isabella Ledet Staff Writer

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

POLICY

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

Villanovans React to the Super Bowl

halftime show.

Feb. 12 was the date of the Super Bowl, in which the Kansas City Chiefs played the Philadelphia Eagles. Though I am a staunch New England Patriots fan, I was greatly anticipating this matchup because of Villanova’s close proximity to Philadelphia.

Most people on campus were certainly rooting for the Eagles, and there was definitely an overwhelming feeling of disappointment when the Eagles were not crowned the victors of the 2022 NFL season.

“The Super Bowl was great up until the end of the game,” junior Isabella Coles said. “The refs made a weak call resulting in such an underwhelming finish to what was a great, competitive game.”

I agree, as I felt that the game itself was one of the most interesting Super Bowls of the past several years, but the clock-wasting end approach left me wanting better closure. It was a close game the whole time and was very high-scoring, entertaining both Eagles and Chiefs fans.

These are the types of games that I greatly enjoy because they give me a good reason to get excited. There was no deficiency of excitement at the viewing party I attended, at which just about everybody was rooting for the Eagles, except one brave soul who had

hopped on the Chiefs bandwagon this postseason.

“It was a great night rooting for the Chiefs with everyone else rooting for the Eagles,” senior Brad Wohlleber said. “Regardless of who had the ball late in the 4th quarter, it would’ve been a fantastic game. I can’t wait for training camp to start up in July.”

Though campus was overwhelmingly pro-Eagles, there were still representatives of several other fan bases upset with the Eagles for making it farther than their own teams.

Junior Ryan Howlin explained his take on the ultimate results. “As a Cowboys fan, it always makes my day to see the Eagles lose,” Howlin said. Many Giants fans were also pleased that their NFC East rivals were shut down. There was a lot of specu-

lation as to whether classes would be canceled if the Eagles won the game, but we unfortunately did not get to see if this would have been the case.

“I really wanted the Eagles to win because I was looking forward to the parade downtown and a day off from school,” junior Jackie Slate said. “I’ve seen photos and videos from past Eagles parades and it looks like so much fun.”

Junior Maggie Logler agreed. “I wanted the Eagles to win because I was excited to celebrate their victory in Philadelphia,” Logler said. “I have heard so many things about the Super Bowl parade and wished we could have experienced it.”

Though the football game itself was thrilling, numerous people were equally, if not more, excited for the commercials and Rihanna’s

“Rihanna’s performance was amazing… and made the Eagles loss more bearable,” Logler said. Though I have never been an extreme fan of Rihanna’s, I still enjoyed her show because of its simplicity. While it is always fun to see the incredible special effects that are often done during halftime shows, I enjoyed Rihanna’s performance and still found it entertaining despite the lack of crazy stunts or funky lights. The commercials were also delightful, ranging from sentimental to laugh-out-loud to confusing. It was hilarious when the Tubi commercial came on and several people started yelling and asking who had touched the remote, an experience that numerous viewers shared.

There were also several viewers that scanned the QR code leading them to “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, falling victim to the classic prank of getting “rick-rolled.”

Even though the Eagles were not victorious, there was no parade and no one had classes canceled on Monday, we can always count on the Super Bowl to unite us.

The Super Bowl has become something larger than football, drawing huge numbers of people to their televisions and becoming a universal evening of fun and intense TV watching.

Being on a college campus on Super Bowl Sunday was an absolute treat, and hopefully the next Super Bowl is as memorable and exciting as this year’s.

Eagles Fans: Monsters or Men?

Honestly, I do not like the Eagles. As a Giants fan, I generally hold disdain for their unruly behavior, partially because I have always seen it from the perspectives of devoted Eagles haters, my father and brother.

Stories of stadiums built in jail cells for riled-up Eagles fans and myths of angry fans pelting Santa with snowballs have certainly influenced my viewpoint, despite the very plausible inaccuracies of these rumors.

On one side of the NFL fan base, Eagles fans are seen as impassioned and full of heart.

On the other, their behavior is seen as unnecessary and unruly, which tends to be the viewpoint of those who have been on the other side of their wrath, whether it be after winning or losing.

As the NFL team of par-

ticular relevance to Villanova, the Philadelphia Eagles’ reputation for their unique behavior certainly has generated strong opinions within the student body.

“The Eagles have the most loyal and passionate fanbase in the NFL, but they have an interesting way of showing it by burning their city down in celebration,” junior Isabella Coles said.

Junior Kayla Verga felt similarly. “My friends were all planning to go into Philadelphia after the game if the Eagles won. But after seeing some videos of Eagles’ fans and their chaotic behavior, I decided I wasn’t going into the city to celebrate with them.”

Nationally, this is likely a majority opinion, as Eagles fans’ destructive behavior of looting and burning became a national headline following their 2018 Super Bowl victory.

But, is this reputation fair?

What do Eagles fans have to say about it?

“Although I am not of the opinion which wants to give the Eagles the benefit of the doubt, to me the actions of a few should not dictate the reputation of the whole,” junior and lifelong Eagles fan Ciara Hibbs said.

But, this minority of the Eagles’ fan base makes it hard to be understanding.

If we view Eagles’ fans as a fridge full of food, the looters and pyromaniacs are like a bowl of uncovered Brussels sprouts, stinking up the whole and ruining everyone’s day.

Videos of car flipping within Philadelphia circulated around social media before the Super Bowl even began last weekend.

“[I] saw a video of a Temple [University] block party and they flipped someone’s car over… a random car,” University of Pennsylvania student Jack Ryan said.

This is not the first time Eagles fans have demonstrated their affinity for flipping cars.

Following the historic Eagles victory in 2018, Time Magazine reported that “plants and street signs were uprooted and cars were flipped over as fans celebrated a win they had waited decades for.”

After hearing of the car flipping early in the day last Sunday, I could not help but feel Philadelphia was going to meet its maker that night, especially following a crushing 38-35 loss to the Chiefs. Fortunately, the traffic lights and 7-11s of Philadelphia lived to see another day, much to my surprise.

Despite the Eagles being closely tied with Villanova, I can not help but feel a little relieved about the loss, given their past.

Although I see that this reputation may be outdated or exaggerated, hating on the Eagles is a fun pastime that I will continue to pursue.

As a final statement to Eagles fans on Villanova’s campus and everywhere, this is largely a joke: please don’t hurt me.

Natalie Zickel / Villanovan Photography

Erin Costa Staff Writer

Liberalism Under Attack! ... Just Kidding

Majo James Staff Writer

On Thursday, professors from several neighboring universities led a webinar called, “When Did “Liberal” Become An Insult?” Going into it, I had high expectations, but found myself incredibly disappointed with the content.

The majority of the talk followed the history of the word “liberal” and how people who identify as such have been historically under attack, dating back from the French Revolution. Liberalism has faced accusations of blasphemy and being anti-institution for centuries, as the professors pointed out.

More recent historical events continued the “attack on liberalism,” especially during the Red Scare in the 1950s. Many liberals were accused of being Communist sympathizers and faced persecution.

And today, liberals are condescendingly referred to as “snowflakes” and “blue-haired,” insults that imply that they are overly sensitive and out of touch with reality.

However, speaking frankly as a leftist myself: who cares? Who cares if there are people who treat “liberal” as a dirty word?

Slandering people who disagree with your opinions is something that has existed from the dawn of every human disagreement.

It is simply not worth the time and effort to complain about this happening when there are so many other more important issues to pour

ty itself that must be considered. Going into the webinar, my expectation was that the primary focus would be the reasons why the word “liberal” has become associated with certain negative qualities. For example, liberals have a tendency to engage in performative activism, which frankly can cause more damage than good.

Following the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the number of people who posted black squares on Instagram for the sake of appearing to be an activist was staggering, simply because it was easier to engage in such superficial activities to ward off accusations of racism than to engage in difficult conversations and genuinely support the movement.

Sadly, liberals struggle with finding good role models due to our insistence on them being perfect individuals. When we inevitably find some flaw or mistake, we dismiss that person entirely.

A perfect example of this that has been widespread on TikTok has

darker aspects of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. Gandhi is a controversial figure for many reasons. His comments on the Holocaust, the caste system and his horribly disturbing abstinence tests are all examples of why he is controversial.

The issue is not that these topics are being talked about. In fact, I believe that we should weigh the good and bad. However, the issue is that those negative aspects are listed as if to dismiss everything Gandhi has ever done.

It is important to recognize that, yes, Gandhi has done and said some horrible things, but that does not make his anti-imperialist activism and secular vision of India any less valid.

Fixating only the negatives of someone like Gandhi is especially problematic, considering that it is a political issue in India. Gandhi represents secularism, something that the BJP (a Hindu nationalist party) pushes back against.

Liberals making strong arguments without considering other

perspectives, with this as just one example, is part of a much bigger issue.

For instance, there have been widespread calls from figures like Greta Thunberg for countries to reduce their carbon footprint.

And for good reason, because if carbon emissions are not dealt with properly, humanity will cross a point of no return resulting in disastrous environmental consequences. If we do not act, we will witness (and some argue we are currently in) the sixth mass extinction.

However, what many activists do not take into account is that poorer countries do not have the luxury of drastically cutting their emissions without jeopardizing their economy and citizens in fatal ways.

There needs to be more emphasis on supporting sustainable development, instead of criticizing certain countries for not being able to reach certain climate goals. More nuanced consideration is necessary in this and other issues.

When one feels with an unshakable conviction that they are right, it’s hard to see other perspectives. Liberals pride themselves on being tolerant individuals, yet we often find ourselves being the opposite when presented with people who have different opinions.

We are hasty to judge, to dismiss and to condemn without even hearing them out. The existence of diverse opinions is the strength of a democracy. If nothing else, having our beliefs be challenged forces us to do more research and be more knowledgeable.

Villanova’s Lepage Center hosted a “When Did “Liberal” Become An Insult?” Panel. Courtesy of The Lepage Center

CULTURE A Tale of Metamorphosis: Villanova Theatre’s “Chrysalis”

Brendan King Staff Writer

Much like watching a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, audience members at the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts had the chance to witness the metamorphosis of an original play from written story to full production for the very first time on Thursday night.

Villanova Theatre held its debut performance of Chrysalis for the general public on Thursday, February 16, in the Court Theatre at the Mullen Center. This was the first time Chrysalis was ever performed as a play, as its first incarnation was as a dramatic reading held in the Vasey Theatre in 2019. The show was written by Kathryn Petersen and directed by Edward Sobel.

Chrysalis takes place in 1699 and the early 1700s in such locations as Amsterdam and Suriname. The plot is loosely based on the true story of Maria Sibylla Merian, a naturalist with an affinity for studying and painting insects, most notably caterpillars and butterflies, and her two daughters Dorothea Graff Merian and Johanna Merian Herolt. Audience members watched as the traditional mother-daughter relationship is challenged and as characters struggle with identity, religion and breaking conformity. These three characters were played by Margo Weishar, Sydney Curran and Regan Venturi, respectively. The eight-member cast also included Taylor Molt, Joshua Peters, Sheldon Shaw, Paul Goraczko and Brendan T. Cochran.

Curran, a first-year set assistant at Villanova, was previously involved in productions of Curtains and Men on Boats as a crew member. Chrysalis, however, was the first time she acted onstage for Villanova Theatre. Prior to her being cast as Dorothea in the 2023 production, she had little knowledge about the play, but quickly fell in love with its story, characters and themes.

“I really loved the dynamic between all three of the Merian

women, and it speaks really true to the complications of family and following your passion,” Curran said.

Given that she had little prior acting experience in Villanova Theatre, Curran did not expect to play one of the main characters in the production.

“When I originally auditioned, I didn’t think I was able to be Dorothea because I had never been in a main role before,” Curran said. “But then, when I got called back for Dorothea, I read over the play again and fell more and more in love with her.”

Petersen, co-director of the theatre program at Arcadia University, had been working on and researching the story of Chrysalis for over 15 years.

“Through various travel grants, I’ve been to Suriname, the rainforest, Amsterdam, and doing a deep dive into all things Maria,” Petersen said.

In 2019, Petersen was invited by Villanova Theatre to partake in a playwright residency and used this as an opportunity to workshop Chrysalis.

“[Villanova Theatre] asked me if I had anything I wanted to work on,” Petersen said. “I never put all those pieces together like I wanted to in a full play. So, I did that for that residency, and we did a two-day staged reading for the public. And then COVID happened, and then about a year ago, they invited me and this play to be in their season for this year.”

Petersen also recognized that this first performance of Chrysalis was very important, because it was the first time the story went from a reading to a full-scale theatrical production.

“For a playwright, a first production is so important because you go, as you said, from two dimensions to three, but you also realize that this is one interpretation of your play, and another director and another set of designers and actors might interpret it,” Petersen said. “They have to still be true to the text, but they will interpret it and envision it differently.”

adapting her story for the stage. An associate professor in Villanova’s theatre department since 2018, Sobel has directed other on-campus productions, such as Youth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Beckett Bites. Sobel was also involved in directing the original reading of Chrysalis in 2019, with the reading having been the first chance to include the “important ingredients of the live performance.”

“Theatre is a very collaborative art form and is based on having live, breathing human bodies in the characters that you’re trying to create on the page,” Sobel said. “So, most plays go through some kind of what we would call a ‘development process,’ where usually some combination of collaborators, whether it’s a director or actors, are involved in the process of working with the playwright as they continue to refine and polish the play.”

With the play taking place in multiple locations, Sobel and the rest of his crew had to face the challenge of being able to represent all of them without disturbing the show’s overall flow. One of their solutions was to include a backdrop with multi -

whichever one was meant to be the current setting. Not only was the use of dioramas a creative way to symbolize different settings, but it also contributed to the story’s overall themes. “Part of what the play is about has to do with the parameters that are around people’s behaviors, particularly for women and particularly at this time,” Sobel said. “There was something about literally putting them in boxes and literally having those environments be boxes.”

In addition to Petersen and Sobel, dramaturg Ryan Henry worked hard to ensure the success of Chrysalis. Henry is a graduate student at Villanova and was involved in Villanova Theatre throughout her time as an undergraduate student, as well.

Henry was not involved in the production of the 2019 incarnation but was recommended to attend one of the readings by Sobel, her playwriting professor at the time.

“I didn’t know anyone in the theatre program other than [Sobel] at this point, so I just wanted to see what this world was,” Henry said.

As dramaturg, Henry’s responsibilities included “working with the playwright a lot [and] trying to find holes in the script,” as well as “researching the whole historical context of the play.” Henry also provided key information in the playbill for Chrysalis about the play’s development and its characters, as well as its thematic elements of faith, science and religion.

“Braiding those three elements into the program notes was something I really wanted to incorporate,” Henry said. “Also, this process has been very personal and influential for me, and I wanted to make that clear.”

Curran, Petersen, Sobel and Henry all felt that Thursday’s showing of Chrysalis was a success and are looking forward to the next set of shows in the run. Chrysalis will continue to play at the Mullen Center until Sunday, February 26.

Courtesy of Villanova Theatre

Chrysalis tells the story of a mother daughter relationship intertwined with entomology, loosely based on a real story. Courtesy of Villanova Theatre

Conn At Night: Winter Gala in Review

Sofia Krzewicki Staff Writer

On Friday, February 17, Villanova students gathered at the completely transformed Connelly Center for an evening to get dressed up, dance and indulge themselves in a wide variety of delectable desserts from mango cheesecake bites to mini Froot Loop cupcakes.

“Villanova went all out on the gala and transformed Conn into a space that was almost unrecognizable,” freshman Kelsey Hearns said.

The annual Winter Gala proved to be a spectacular event. The Connelly Center was a versatile space to hold such an event. Every possible nook and cranny was impressively decorated and utilized as venues for various entertainment.

As Jordan Baker, the amateur golfer from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, quips, “I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.”

One could easily get lost in the dancing in The Villanova Room or in the corridors of the art gallery-turned-casino. It was fun to see peers dressed up in their personal best, as Conn was an eclectic Met Gala carpet of sorts, everything from illustrious floor-length dresses and stilettos to

Chuck Taylors and Polo shirts.

Students showed up and showed out. All of Villanova’s Orientation Steering Committee was in attendance for the event. One of these members was junior Ryan Maloney.

“I had a really good time with my friends at the gala,” Maloney said. “It was nice to have an on-campus event and hang out with friends that I don’t typically get to see.”

There were plenty of

opportunities for entertainment. On the bottom floor, The Villanova Room was transformed into a dance floor with blue and white decor (of course), and there was a mini buffet. For students 21 and over, alcoholic beverages were provided. In Belle Aire, students could get photos taken with friends.

“[It] definitely made it easier to get pictures and made for some fun souvenirs,” sophomore

Lexie Zulaga said.

Peppered in this space were high and low-top tables for students to sit and enjoy their food or wait in line for a photo with Father Peter.

A tent served as an extension to the bottom level floor. Inside the tent were comfy white couches with icicle-looking lightup decorations and long tables with various desserts, which also provided another entrance and exit to the dance floor. Everything flowed nicely and everything felt new upon turning a corner as there was something worth exploring.

The top floor by the art gallery, which was transformed into a casino with Blackjack tables, Roulette tables and a live band, was the place to be at the Winter Gala. It had a 007 quality, thanks to the dim-lit casino vibe. The top floor added a level of sophistication as it helped the event maintain its title as a “gala” event. Students played for chips, which could be “cashed in” to enter a lottery for a $100 Amazon gift card. While still casual, as students laughed and cheered each other on at various games, mingled with the dealers, and nodded along to the band’s tunes, there was something avant-garde about the top floor.

In all, the Winter Gala was a fun event worth looking forward to and a great opportunity to en

The Struggles of College Internships

Maddie Schieder Staff Writer

Being an intern is not all sunshine and rainbows, but the experience it brings leads us to something even more amazing.

Internships, more now than ever, are crucial to have during one’s college career. As soon as September hits and Villanovans finish their summer internship, the hunt is back on. There is seemingly no break.

“Once we get back to school after the summer break, I was already looking at internships,” junior Maggie Winstone said. “Having a good internship is make or break. To get any job, employers always expect internship experience nowadays.”

For many students, opening Linkedin brings a sense of dread. Each day someone is announcing a new internship or job position. Put simply, finding an internship can be a bloodbath.

This past summer, I had my first in-person internship in a new city. To say I was nervous is an understatement, but it ended up being the best thing to ever happen to me. In a welcoming environment and respectful work culture, I thrived. Sure, running errands for your boss or completing busy work are not the most glamorous tasks, but being enthusiastic about everything you do will get you far.

However, it must be recognized how intimidating it can

be to be an intern. Interns are extremely vulnerable, and it feels like you are going to mess up every little thing, especially when you mess up the food orders on lunch duty. There are challenges with being “unofficial” in an office full of “official” employees. These challenges include always making sure you are saying the right thing, not asking too many questions but always asking enough of them and most importantly, getting things done on time.

Senior nursing student, Maggie Mick spoke about her internship experience this past summer in Chicago, IL.

“There were definitely highs and lows of being an intern,” Mick said. “My biggest challenge was gaining enough confidence to do tasks on my own. This can be really nerve-wracking as a nurse. However, when my coworkers and mentors trusted me enough to do things on my own, it was extremely rewarding. I also loved getting to know everyone on my unit and forming relationships with everyone.”

Mick’s experience is extremely relatable. Earning the responsibility of taking on tasks alone is one of the best and one of the scariest parts of being an intern. But an internship is a growth period. There are times where you will be told no or that something is not good enough, but that is just reality.

Being an intern is all about taking constructive feedback and learning from your mentors. In

an internship, you may be handed tasks you never thought you would be in charge of, which makes things a bit spontaneous. It shows you that, in the real world, your skillset is never limited. Cleaning the dishes after the lunch break or organizing filing cabinets were probably not mentioned in the job description you applied for, but having someone to do the little things around the office affects the team as a whole.

Other struggles may include some lulls in the day with no

work or days where you feel like you are drowning in work. Especially if you are getting little to no pay, pursuing an internship can be difficult.

If you take one thing from reading this article, let it be to be the most enthusiastic and helpful intern you can, and every minute of it will pay off. Do the small tasks that nobody else wants to do because your work will never go unnoticed, and it will lead you to more connections than you ever could have imagined.

Students of all classes enjoyed the ambiance of the Winter Gala. Natalie Zickel / Villanovan Photography

Co-Culture Editor Chloe Miller at her summer internship. Chloe Miller/Villanovan Photography

New Campus Club Sport: Pickleball

Katie Formato Staff Writer

Throughout the past year, pickleball has become very popular. Over the summer, people were playing all over the country, and, whether one has experience or not, they should look to join the new pickleball club on campus.

The pickleball club was started this semester by friends Sara Scarlett and Ellen Pataky.

“My friend Ellen Pataky and I decided to start a pickleball club at Villanova because we both loved playing,” Scarlett said. “Pickleball is also one of the fastest growing sports in the country, so we thought it would be the perfect time to start a club at Villanova.”

Since pickleball has quickly gained popularity over the past year, it is a sport that could be very valuable to know.

One of the best things about the club is that, even if one does not have experience playing pickleball, Scarlett mentioned that anyone can join. Furthermore, for those looking to pick up a new hobby, or meet new people, joining the pickleball club is a great way to get involved.

As of now, the pickleball club has practices three times a

week. These practices are a great way for people to socialize with others and play pickleball.

“We set up nets and have people play games and then rotate others in,” Scarlett said. “We teach people who don’t know how to play and set up some games for them and teach them the rules.

“Students should join pickleball club because it is a fun way to get in some exercise, hang out with friends or meet new people and learn something new,” Scartlett said. “Pickleball is a great sport because it is easy to pick up, and you can play it when you are older as well.”

Although the pickleball club has just started on campus this semester, it has already been a great success, creating a fun environment for students to come together despite their level of pick leball ability. By joining the club, students with more experience playing pickleball can meet others of a similar level and play games with them, while people who do not have as much experience can learn the fundamentals about the game.

Scarlett explains the goals that she has for the club in future.

“Our goal is to create a space where people can have fun and improve their pickleball skills, as well as introduce people on

campus to pickleball,” Scarlett said. “We are looking into transitioning to a club sport or having both a club and a club sport in the future, but for now are working on getting the club running smoothly.”

Those interested in learning

more and joining the pickleball club should follow it on Instagram @ villanova_pickleball. Also, in its bio, there is a link to the pickleball club groupme that one can join to learn more about practices and upcoming events.

Horoscopes - Week of February 22

Chloe Miller Co-Culture Editor

- When opportunity knocks the universe urges you to listen. You need to align more with things that bring you joy. Although it might seem disguised, something is going to come to you unexpectedly. Pay attention to the signs around you. Even if they are not what you think you want, be open to possibilities.

Taurus - A reprieve from turmoil has finally come. Bask in this settled feeling that you currently have and work towards maintaining it to be prosperous. You worked hard to get to this state. In the coming weeks, continue to ride this wave of positive energy by being intentional each day with where you place your energy.

Gemini - You might have done something a little out of character last week. Although it was not typical of you, you may have found that you enjoyed this new experience. The stars urge you to seek more of this thrill. You may find a new passion or avenue for the future. While it can be scary, take the plunge.

Cancer - You’ve been holding on for much too long. You find comfort in reminiscing on the past. With spring in the air, it is time to purge yourself of former memories that are no longer serving you. Cutting off this dead weight will allow new and more beneficial flowers to bud.

Leo - This week the stars are urging you to reevaluate your priorities. Although it may feel great to have your foot on the gas

at all moments regarding school, work, and responsibilities, you need to make sure that you are balancing time for yourself and your relationships. Without dedicating the proper amount of attention and care to the important friendships in your life and your relationship with yourself, you will run into burnout. A little bit of self-care and time spent with those you love will pay off in the long run.

Virgo - Gear up, Virgo. You might have felt like you had all your ducks in a row, but this week might throw you for a loop. You have all the tools you need to succeed. The question is, when the time is dire, will you listen to your gut or follow your heart? Do not be discouraged if things do not go your way this week, just know that

your time will come.

Libra - We know. The future can be scary. You must trust in yourself and know that you have the power within you to shape the future of your life. Although the opportunities you are searching for might be coming up short, the stars urge you to be open and accepting, as a new and unconventional prospect will greet you this week. Take the leap and reap the benefits.

Scorpio - You have been burning it at both ends. You know that this is not sustainable. This week, focus on recommitting to your wellness and what sparks joy within you, whether this be movement, grabbing lunch with a friend, or just taking time to “be.”

Sagittarius - You’ve been finding it hard to focus on your

academic work. While it may be tempting to push it aside or rush through it, the stars tell you to slow down. Get creative with how you view your responsibilities. Approaching your work with a positive mindset will foster more gratitude toward it and the entire experience, leading to greater outcomes. With this approach, you will see much success.

Capricorn - You have been riding high, Capricorn. You have been at an all-time productivity high, and you feel like anything life throws at you, you can handle. Keep this momentum up by taking time to recognize your handwork. When times get tough, remind yourself of your capability. You would not be here if you were not ready for it.

Aquarius - You may not feel like yourself recently. Do not let this change in motivation or pace. Take over. Rather, embrace this slower period of your life and find joy in being present with yourself. What you will find from this is gratitude for the beautiful little things each day. Joy will come in your everyday tasks. Remember, not every day needs to be busy in order to be productive. Take a load off, Aquarius.

Pisces - Think strategically, Pisces. While you may have had some great successes and celebrated them, do not let that slow your momentum down. Your edge comes from never being satisfied. If you continue with this pace of attacking each day as a new opportunity for success, you will find more fulfillment as well as experiences greater than you can imagine.

Members of Club Pickleball publicized the new sport at the Involvement Fair. Courtesy of @villanova_pickleball on Instagram

Men’s Track Breaks Distance Medley Relay Record

Jacob Artz Staff Writer

Another week, another school record blown away. This time in dominant fashion.

The quartet of junior Liam Murphy, freshman Jimmy Milgie, senior Sean Dolan and graduate student Charlie O’Donovan obliterated the old indoor school record with a time of 9:20.44 in the distance medley relay at the Alex Wilson Invitational at Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon.

The former overall Villanova school record, which includes indoor and outdoor meets, had stood since the 1987 Penn Relays when a Wildcats grouping ran to a time of 9:21.04.

Villanova’s time narrowly beat out Michigan for third place, with the Wolverines posting a time of 9:20.83. ‘Nova almost claimed the top spot, with Wisconsin and North Carolina tying for first with a time of 9:19.99.

Murphy opened in the 1200-meter portion in the fourleg event. There are two different types of runners, some that thrive with runners around them and some that do well with being able to keep their own pace in a time trial-like fashion.

Murphy likes runners around him and opening with him was the correct decision. Mur-

phy ran to an approximate time of 2:52 for the 1200-meter run, according to head coach Marcus O’Sullivan.

“It was the right call, more so because [O’Donovan] was the right one to have on the anchor on this particular case,” O’Sullivan said.

Murphy did break too early for the finish line as the track was disorienting with 400 meters being a lap and a quarter.

Milgie led the second portion of the event in the 400-meter dash, and he continued the pace for the team. He posted an estimated time of 48 seconds in the dash, according to O’Sullivan.

“Let’s kind of stay on our feet, don’t fall down and maintain,” O’Sullivan said of Milgie’s duty to keep the pace going.

Once the first two legs were completed, the ‘Cats found themselves well behind, but Dolan in the 800-meters produced when the team needed it.

“[Dolan] ran, I would say, one the best legs he’s ever run, maybe 1:45 high,” O’Sullivan said.

When O’Donovan received the baton, he was in an awful spot, considering he had five to six teams behind him that could draft off him. O’Donovan is the type of athlete that can pace himself well and is a good front-runner without runners around him.

O’Donovan was able to draft behind the Texas runner later in his run and maintain his pace throughout until the last lap.

“He ended up running 3:53 for the 1600, which was a big, big run for him, and almost closed in on Wisconsin,” O’Sullivan said.

The overall team time was blazing, but it was only the fifth fastest time of the weekend. This puts ‘Nova fifth in the NCAA championship rankings, and the top-16 receive a berth in the NCAA Championships.

Across the world, freshman Marco Langon competed in Bathurst, Australia early Saturday morning in the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23.

Langon raced to a 19th place finish with a time of 26:16 in the 8000-meter, helping guide Team USA to a bronze medal.

“He said he wanted to be top-20,” O’Sullivan said. “We thought, [assistant coach] Matt Valeriani and myself, we thought that was really ambitious.”

Langon was able to prepare himself well on campus.

“We were very, very fortunate enough with the weather because we were able to stay on the turf on West Campus a lot,” O’Sullivan said. “We did a lot of long-distance work over there.”

The weather in Australia was a challenge with temperatures

reaching 95 degrees, but he was the second American to finish.

Langon was one of six male runners representing Team USA in the world championships.

Langon performed well as soon as he donned the Villanova jersey. He earned the honors of Mid-Atlantic All-Region and All Big East Second Team. He also placed 13th in the Big East Championships in the 8000 meters during cross country season.

It is a quick turnaround for the ‘Cats, as they will travel to Chicago on Wednesday for the Big East Championships next Friday and Saturday.

Connecticut will most likely prevail in this year’s edition because of its depth and talent throughout many of the races. ‘Nova will be fighting for the runner-up position.

“In a kind of landscaped idea, we could finish second, or we could finish fourth,” O’Sullivan said. “And the points difference will be small.”

For example, Connecticut won the Big East Championships last year with a total of 227 points. DePaul finished second with 99 points, Villanova placed third with 96 points and Butler and Georgetown finished right behind ‘Nova with 95 and 91 points.

“It would be nice to get on the podium, you know, for the team,” O’Sullivan said.

Anders Said It: Villanova Softball Poised for Three-Peat Despite Slow Start

Anders Pryor Staff Writer

Villanova’s softball team has not gotten off to the start we have all hoped for. A 1-4 record last weekend brings them to 4-6, with most recently a brutal 11-3 downfall against Dayton.

From the outside looking in, Villanova does not seem like the team someone would predict won their conference last year. Don’t get too distracted from the upside: this Wildcat team is poised for a three-peat in the Big East with upperclassmen leading the charge.

After 10 games last sea son, the softball team was 3-7. Only two of the games were against ranked opponents (No. 4 Florida and No. 14 Duke), and it had two shutouts against Flor ida and Marshall. What brought the team into the light of success was its mid-season 12-game win ning streak that included three clean sweeps against Georgetown, Creighton, and Providence.

While that momentum carried over for Villanova into the Big East Tournament, it’s especial ly important to note that all three teams that Villanova faced in that tournament - Butler, DePaul and UConn - were conference teams

that Villanova did not sweep in the regular season.

It took poise for Villanova to be able to learn from its mistakes and make those adjustments when it mattered most. With a team that’s so focused on veteran experience, that will show on the scoresheet later this season.

Through 10 games, junior

centerfielder Tess Cites leads the team with 10 hits, averaging one per contest. Cites finished last season with 21 hits, putting her already just under half of her previous production. Senior catcher Ally Jones and senior third baseman Chloe Smith both have five hits on the year, with Smith coming second on the roster in total

bases with 10.

Graduate catcher Ryan Henry leads the team in both batting average at an impressive .333 and in slugging percentage at a powerful .750. Both numbers are tremendous improvements within the sample size with Ryan finishing last season with a .262 average and a .469 slugging percentage.

The improvements the upperclassman have made not only put those athletes in a better position for success, but positions the whole team for recreating a similar late season push we all saw drive them to success last year.

This is an experienced team that, with two titles under their belt in two years, has put it in a lot of big spots. Those spots won’t bring the kind of pressure it would for other programs. They’ve demonstrated time and time again that they can learn, make adjustments and perform in big spots.

As head coach Bridget Orchard enters her fifth season coaching the Wildcats, she looks to go three-for-five in clinching the Big East. Even though she might not have put together a dominant win-loss record in a season, her ability to lead this team to success at the end surmounts all of that. She’s not worried about the ceiling of her ballclub, and we shouldn’t be either.

Freshman Pitcher Kat Gallant is 2-1 to start the season Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Women’s Tennis Falls to Howard

Lauren Armstrong Staff Writer

On Saturday, Feb. 18th, the women’s tennis team traveled to Washington D.C. to take on Howard University. While the team lost, 4-2, the Wildcats still played a strong match.

Due to delays on I-95 caused by a truck accident, the team arrived with little time to warm up, and without enough time to compete in doubles, leaving the result of this matchup to rely solely on singles play.

With the No. 2 seed, Maggie Gehrig, being out with an injury until spring break, players were all moved up a spot in the competition. This change in po sition allowed for senior Amanda Rivera-González to step in with a

win for her team.

Junior Bella Steffen stepped up to the play in the No. 4 spot during this match. Although she ultimately lost, head coach Steve Reiniger applauded Steffen, stating that she had an amazing match.

Reiniger also expressed that, had this competition been in a previous season, it might have been a tougher battle, but Steffen has been working hard this season to improve her game, and the work is truly proving well.

In addition to Steffen having a great match, No. 5, Caitlin Fisher and No. 6, Rivera-González both won their matches against Howard.

Her win against Emnet Simunyola was one of the two wins this weekend, emphasizing that Rivera-González is a growing force on the court. The other Wildcats lost their matches.

“Everyone needs to play their best tennis in order to stay competitive,” said Reiniger.

With Gehrig out, the team needs to play to its best ability in order to prepare for their Big East matches during spring break against Creighton on March 7 and Butler on March 10.

But, before looking towards the Big East, the Wildcats have a packed week ahead as they take on UPenn Wednesday, Feb. 22, St. John’s Friday, Feb. 24 and a double

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

Feb. 15 - Feb. 21

Wednesday, February 15

Women’s Basketball @ St. John’s 73-57 W

Thursday, February 16

Friday, February 17

Softball vs Dayton @ Auburn

3-2 W

Baseball vs Washington St. in AZ

0-7 L

Baseball vs UC Riverside in AZ

2-7 L

Softball @ Auburn 0-8 L

Saturday, February 18

Softball vs Austin Peay @ Auburn

0-2 L

Women’s Tennis @ Howard

2-4 L

Men’s Swim @ West Virginia 92-128 L

Women’s Basketball vs UConn 51-60 L Softball vs Auburn

3-9 L

Men’s Track vs Alex Wilson Invitational No Team Scoring Baseball vs Washington St. in AZ 7-22 L

Men’s Basketball @ Providence 72-85 L

Sunday, February 19

James Haupt Staff Writer

The opening weekend for Villanova baseball proved to be busy and action-packed as the team traveled to Arizona to play at Peoria Sports Complex.

The Wildcats lost all three games this weekend, falling to Washington State twice and California Riverside once.

In their double-header on Friday, the Wildcats lost to WSU, 7-0, and then fell to Cal Riverside, 7-2.

In the first game, against WSU, there was a lot to be excited about on the mound and at the plate. The Wildcats had a strong start to the game as graduate transfer SS Craig Larsen smacked a double as the second batter of the game.

That hit would end up being one of two for Villanova in this game, as they it was mostly shut down at the plate. Senior captain CF AJ Hansen added to the hit tally with a double in the top of the fifth.

Transfer pitcher Sal Fusco gaveup six runs on four hits and four walks. However, he recorded seven strikeouts in 3.1 innings pitched.

Two other pitchers made strong appearances later in this game. Graduate transfer Stephen Turzai replaced Fusco in the

fourth inning, and allowed one run on zero hits in three innings.

The last pitcher to come in was freshman Luke Matta, who only allowed one hit and zero earned runs in 1.2 innings. This was a strong start for the freshman, and head coach Kevin Mulvey made the right call this late in the game.

“There’s a lot of innings, a lot of opportunities,” Mulvey said. “It’s opening weekend, you’re trying to feel out your staff. [Matta] proved the moment was not too big.”

The Wildcats tried to come back late in the game, but the score remained 7-0, as Villanova recorded its first loss of the season.

The second game of the day proved to be a closer battle, but the Wildcats still fell, 7-2, to UC Riverside.

Villanova was able to get the bats going in this game, as it recorded two runs on eight hits. Both runs were scored by graduate transfer and second baseman Luke Mutz, who hit a two-run homerun in the top of the fourth, which gave Villanova the lead.

However, the Wildcats quickly lost the lead, thanks to a six-run inning for UC Riverside. A large amount of these runs was accounted for by the Wildcats fielding errors, as they recorded three in the game.

On the mound, junior pitcher Devin Rivera allowed only three earned runs on nine hits in five innings, but the errors caused

him to allow seven runs total. This was a strong performance from Rivera, which shouldn’t be shadowed by the mistakes on the field.

“The results were unfortunate,” Mulvey said. “[Rivera’s] performance did not reflect what he did on the mound. He pitched to contact well.”

Junior pitcher Cade Udell replaced Rivera and had a strong two innings with no hits or runs, and had two strikeouts. Graduate transfer pitcher Cabot Maher had a near flawless inning in the eighth, when he recorded two strikeouts on his way to a 1-2-3 inning.

But, despite the strong pitching and hitting efforts, the Wildcats walked away 2-0 at the end of the first day of play.

Looking ahead to the next day of play, Villanova was eager for revenge over WSU after losing the first game, but fell again to the Cougars in a 22-7 blowout, despite putting up seven runs.

There were three Villanova position players that had strong performances in this game. Senior first baseman Jack O’Reilly went 2-4 with one walk, one RBI and one run scored.

Graduate transfer 3B Steve Grober went 2-4 as well, with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior RF August Biggio improved his OBP as he went 1-2 with two walks on the day.

There was much to be desired on the mound, as Villanova let up a combined 22 runs. Senior

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Yale 14-20 L Softball vs Dayton 3-11 L

Women’s Lacrosse vs. St. Joes 14-13 W

Monday, February 20

Tuesday, February 21

Men’s Basketball @ Xavier 64-63 W

Women’s Basketball vs DePaul 67-63 W

pitcher Frank DeGaetano was given the loss in what was an unfortunate outing. He allowed six earned runs on seven hits in three innings, but was able to get six strikeouts along the way.

However, the box score doesn’t truly depict how he performed.

“Each game has its own identity,” Mulvey said. “We want to pound the zone, get ahead and make them beat us. That’s our main focus.”

Despite a tough start to the season, the Wildcats still have much to play for as they look ahead to their upcoming competition this weekend.

The ‘Cats will head to Jacksonville, Florida to take on the University of North Florida on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in hopes that they can bring their record to an even .500.

Villanova struggled against Howard this past weekend. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Softball Looks Ahead After Challenging 1–4 Weekend

Katie Lewis Staff Writer

Last weekend, Villanova’s softball team traveled to Alabama to compete against some of the nation’s top softball programs at The Auburn University Tiger Invitational.

The team went 1-4, beating Dayton once and losing once to Austin Peay, twice to Auburn, and once to Dayton in a second game, before returning home on Sunday, Feb. 19.

“This weekend, the errors were really costly,” head coach Bridget Orchard said. “But we have a really young team, so it was good for us to face [Auburn] this early on to get experience playing against the best of the best.”

On Friday, the Wildcats defeated Dayton 3-2 for the first time in program history. The game featured strong pitching from freshman Kat Gallant. Gallant pitched for 6.2 innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs and striking out six batters.

Neither team scored for the first four innings, until a hit by junior center fielder Tess Cites allowed senior first baseman and pinch runner Victoria Sebastian to score and put Villanova on the board.

The Wildcats added two more runs in the sixth inning, when Sebastian hit a line drive to clear the bases for a 3–0 lead. In the second half of the inning, Dayton scored two runs off two doubles and a sin-

gle.

Although successful in the first game of the day, the Wildcats did not maintain that success as they lost to No. 21 Auburn, 8-0, in five innings during their second game on Friday.

Following a home run during the first at-bat, Auburn finished the game with ten hits and six RBIs. Villanova, meanwhile, managed one hit, a single from sophomore pitcher Kelsey White.

On Saturday morning, the Wildcats lost to Austin Peay, 2–0. Although the team was unable to bring any runners home, Villanova totaled four base hits. Graduate student Peyton Schnackenberg brought a strong pitching performance with a complete game and five strikeouts, allowing only five hits and two runs from the Governors.

The second game on Sat urday was a rematch against No. 21 Auburn. Although the Wildcats demonstrated some improvements since the day before, they were once again defeated, losing, 9–3.

Cites kicked off the game with a single, and the Wildcats took advantage of two errors by the opponent team to score a run in the first inning.

After an Auburn grand slam in the second half of the inning, the game took a positive turn for Villanova when senior third base man Chloe Smith hit a home run to bring the score up to 4–2.

However, Auburn eventually took the lead with strong hitting and

multiple Villanova miscues. For the third day of play on Sunday, the Wildcats faced Dayton for a second time, their last game of the tournament. The game ended in five innings, as the Flyers mercy-ruled the Wildcats 11-3.

Despite a powerful double from Cites to open the game, Villanova was unable to score until the fifth inning, when sophomore infielder Elaina Wagner and freshman outfielder Madison Ostrowski hit their first career doubles and RBIs.

Despite the disappointing weekend, Orchard is optimistic as the season progresses.

“Graduating an All-Ameri-

can pitcher and our top three hitters last year, I knew that some growing pains were coming,” Orchard said. “But I think the team is doing a great job to find little things we’re doing right, and they’re understanding that it’s a long season, and we don’t always start where we finish.”

The Wildcats will take the field again this weekend as they head to Boca Raton, Fl. to compete in the FAU “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament, which will feature North Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Wisconsin and Boston College.

Villanova will open up tournament play against North Carolina on Friday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

Men and Women’s Lacrosse Play Home Matches

Elijah McDow Staff Writer

This past weekend, both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams played at home. The men’s team lost to No. 5 Yale, 20-14, and the women’s team beat Saint Joseph’s in the final seconds in a 14-13 thriller.

The women’s team took the field just hours after the men, and the Wildcats got started early in the first quarter with two goals from graduate attacker Caroline Curnal. St. Joe’s tied the game at 2-2 with eight minutes left in the quarter.

Two minutes after St. Joe’s tied it up, sophomore attacker Sami Carey scored to give the Wildcats the lead again. Sophomore attacker Sydney Pappas then extended this lead, scoring two goals, with the first assisted by freshmen midfielder Elena Torres.

For the majority of the second quarter, the Wildcats continued their strong performance. Five minutes into play, Torres scored a goal to go along with her first quarter assist.

St. Joe’s tied the game at 6-6 with eight minutes left in the quarter. This prompted a timeout from head coach Jill Batcheller, with the hopes it would offer a reset prior to halftime.

“The timeout was to make sure that the team was remembering the keys to the game,” Batcheller said. “We wanted to give them reminders on some things that St. Joe’s was doing and also to help us get into the second half on a stronger note.”

The reminder was key for

the Wildcats, as, two minutes later, Pappas scored yet again to put the Wildcats back on top going into halftime.

During the intermission, Batcheller’s message was similar to the one she gave during the timeout.

“We highlighted the things the team was doing well and really tried to get the team to be more disciplined to the game plan,” Batcheller said. “We switched into our zone defense from our man to man and I thought that change allowed us to slow St. Joe’s offense and transition game.”

Despite St. Joe’s scoring two early goals, Pappas added to her goal tally followed by another goal from Carey to give the Wildcats the lead again.

The Wildcats headed in the fourth quarter with a narrow 12-10 lead.

As play began for the final

quarter, Curnal got her fourth goal early, but St. Joe’s fired back, tying the game at 13-13 with one minute left on the clock.

While it looked like the game would be going into overtime, the Wildcats had other plans. With only eight seconds left on the clock, Curnal put the game to rest, scoring her fifth goal to keep the Wildcats undefeated.

“One of the things we have been talking about this season has been winning ugly,” Batcheller said. “We call ground ball pickups garbage goals so for that to be the way we won in the end I was just really proud of her [Curnal] for finding a way and believing all the way until the end.”

The Wildcats look ahead to their two upcoming home games, first against La Salle on Wednesday, Feb. 22, and the second against Navy on Saturday, Feb. 25.

For the men’s game, the goals came early and often. There were three goals within the first three minutes of play, and the Wildcats went up, 2-1. Senior midfielder Mason Reale scored Villanova’s first two goals. His energy was met by junior attacker Matt Licata, who scored two goals to give the Wildcats a 4-1 lead.

Shortly after Licata’s second goal, Yale scored three goals to tie the game, 4-4. The Wildcats took the lead right back with a goal from graduate attacker Patrick Daly. At the end of the first quarter, graduate midfielder Austin Frazier also chipped in with two goals to give the Wildcats a 7-4 advantage.

In the second quarter, Yale came out hungry scoring 30 seconds into play to trim the Wildcat lead to two. But, just as it was looking like Yale would come back for the second time that half, Villanova graduate midfielder Matt Campbell scored two goals.

Despite Campbell’s two goals, Yale went on another streak, tying the game at 9-9. At halftime, the score was tied, 10-10.

In the third quarter, Villanova gave up seven goals and lacked intensity. Despite goals from junior midfielder Tucker Goodelle, and a second from Daly, Yale led at the end of the third quarter, 17-12.

Licata and Daly both scored their third goals of the game, but it was not enough, and the Wildcats fell, 20-14.

The Wildcats will take the field next away at No. 10 University of Delaware. The game is scheduled for noon on February 26th.

Villanova goes 1-4 in weekend tournament. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Villanova celebrates after scoring a goal against St. Joe’s. Graydon Paul / Villanovan Photography

THE BACKPAGE

Across

3. Instagram’s version of Tiktok

4. Campus transportation

5. Tennessee team playing the 76ers Thursday

7. Cupid’s holiday

10. ___ grounds

11. Superior gas station

13. Villanova’s improv / comedy club

14. “You’re not you when you’re hungry”

17. Restaurant in the Commons

ASK THE VILLANOVAN

I want to find a girlfriend and it feels practically impossible. I’m already a junior and have never had a relationship nor a first kiss. Would this be a turnoff to girls I want to get with? If it matters, I feel I click better with older girls.

First off, if somebody is going to be thrown off by you not having your first kiss, that’s NOT someone you’d want to be with! If you’re looking for someone older and you’re a junior, that limits the on-campus options. Maybe make a Tinder/Bumble profile and set your age range for 21+ ... or take a trip to the law school.

I’ve had a crush on a girl for a year now and she graduates this spring. I really want to confess to her and start dating her before we have to go long distance as I will still be in college after she graduates. How do I do this?

The clock’s ticking. Shoot your shot. If you only have a few months left in school together, what’s the risk? If it goes well, you fall in love. If it goes poorly, they’re gone in a few months... so who cares?

Down

1. Philly hockey team

2. Movie about Elle Woods’ law school journey

6. Short, light sleep

8. Cartoon characters added to texts

9. Word for “what goes around comes around”

12. Old name for McGuinn Hall

14. Itsy bitsy

15. Swedish furniture store

16. Acronym used when something is funny

Created by Matthew Gaetano