The Villanovan | Volume 113, Issue 2: Wednesday, September 8, 2021

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

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VOLUME 113 | ISSUE 2

Opinion: Texas Abortion Law

Mask Mandate Returns As Cases Rise

Vivi Melkonian Co-Opinion Editor

On Wednesday September 1, legislators in Texas passed Senate Bill 8, banning abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, a point at which many women may not even be aware they are pregnant. Additionally, provisions of the bill lay out punishable offenses doctors, clinic staff, and even Uber drivers could potentially face for being involved with the procedure. Private citizens can report and sue those involved with abortion provedures and if they are found guilty, these defendants would have to pay a fee of $10,000. The law encourages clinics to turn away women seeking abortions and supports individuals coming forward to report patients or doctors involved. One of the most grotesque provisions of this bill is it’s refusal to make exceptions in cases of incest or rape. The American Civil Liberties Union requested a block by the Supreme Court on which they refused to act.

This denial is a clear display of where the court stands on abotion rights and access in this country.

The Texas law is an unprecedented approach to abortion regulation; rather than put government officials in charge of enforcing the ban, this law puts the responsibility on citizens. The consequence of this provision is that it is more difficult to prove unconstitutionality in the Supreme Court. Essentially, if there is no one individual responsible for enforcing the law, there is nobody to take to court for violating the constitution. Essentially, anyone involved with an abortion in anyway is subject to citizen vigalilantes seeking out legal ramifications. This puts clinics at a great legal disadvantage and pushes them to not provide abortions so as to avoid being sued. The Continued on p. 5

University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue OSA Ph.D. sent students an email addressing the rise in COVID-19 cases on Friday.

Courtesy of Villanova University

Cate McCusker Co-Editor-in-Chief

On Friday afternoon, the Villanova community received an email from University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue OSA Ph.D. stating that, “All community members, regardless of vaccination status, are asked to wear masks when inside classrooms and/or any campus buildings that are open to the public.”

The email clarified that masks are not needed when eating or drinking, alone in a private space or outdoors. Students also do not have to wear masks in their residence halls, but Donohue warned that this may change.

Even with 95% of the community vaccinated, the University is still struggling with a rise in COVID-19 cases. Since Aug. 17, there have been 79 cumulative cases,

according to the University’s COVID-19 Campus Dashboard.

Also, starting Wednesday, Sept. 8, “our surveillance testing will now include a randomized sample of community members, regardless of vaccination status,” the email said.

“It’s wonderful to have all of you back and to see this campus brimming with activity,” Donohue said in a video included in the email. “And yes, COVID is back with us as well.”

Donohue explained the new mitigation efforts and stated that the University will assess the next steps for the community following Family Weekend, which will be Sept.

17-19.

“We want a healthy semester for all Villanovans.

We’ve done this before, and we can do it again,” he said before putting on a mask.

“Masks on, V’s up, and have a safe Labor Day weekend.”

Kathleen J. Byrnes, J.D., Associate Vice President for Student Life, spoke with The Villanovan on Tuesday evening to clarify the recent changes. Byrnes explained that the University noticed that the recent trend in cases, among both the vaccinated and unvaccinated, was similar to the first couple of weeks last fall, so they decided to take action.

“We are trying to be proactive in order to avoid a surge that would cause more restrictions,” Byrnes said, adding that there is not a specific next step that the University is looking to implement but the situation will be evaluated in a few weeks.

“Parents Weekend, when we will be having a lot of visitors to campus, happens to be about two weeks

after Labor Day Weekend, when there is a lot of movement and activity, so we decided to take extra precautions for these next two weeks,” Byrnes said.

Currently, inside campus buildings, visitors are asked to wear masks. However, they do not have to wear masks outdoors.

Due to the wording of Donohue’s email, many students were confused about the requirement of the mask policy. Byrnes clarified that the mask mandate is required and students are being asked to wear their masks to help keep the community safe.

“We need to wear masks to see if that will help bring our numbers down because if we continue at this rate we are going to end up having a lot of cases this semester,” she said. “We are in this together. We are asking you to do this and we need you to do this.”

History of Race Course Soon To Be Required Skylar Musick

Staff Writer

The fiery racist roots of this nation have spread not only in this country for many years, but also on Villanova’s campus, making the newest addition to the curriculum a step forward into a better future. We have witnessed racist practices for far too long, not

just in our nation’s history, but in our campus’ history as well. To bring the University one significant step closer to a community-wide practice of antiracism, the school has created a new University Race and Justice Course (URJC): History of Race.

History of Race is currently taught by Hibba Abugideiri and Sherry Bowen. Because this course will

eventually become a requirement for all Villanovans, students have many questions.

Therefore, Abugideiri has answered these questions and shared her thoughts on the progress the URJC has made so far.

The Villanovan: How did this course come to be? What was that process like?

Hibba Abugideiri: The

URJC is one of the recommendations put forth by Aequitas: Presidential Task Force on Race that Father Peter established in July of 2020, in the aftermath of the George Floyd murder and the consequent protests for social justice, which included some powerful social media posts by Black Villanovans,” Abugideiri said. “The Task Continued on p. 9

TED Talk Addresses Flooding p. 3

Intramural Sports Return for Fall p. 4

In Hot Water: Global Warming Affected Hurricane Ida p. 6

The Afghanistan War Was All About Money p. 7

Donda Proves Record Labels Are Bad For Music p. 8

Unsung Heroes of Villanova Presents: Junior Alice Ke p. 10

Kanye West’s Donda: Bridging Fashion and Music p. 10

Villanovans Attend Made In America Festival 2021 p. 12

Women’s Soccer Beats Cornell, Improves to 5-0 p. 14

How to Beat the Bison: Bucknell Preview p. 15

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PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

VOL. 113 | ISS. 1 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan

CATE McCUSKER JACK ROBERGE MADISON BURKE ARIANA MEGERIAN SARAH SWEENEY SARAH WISNIEWSKI TINA ARON VIVI MELKONIAN A.J. FEZZA ELENA ROUSE JULIA STANISCI COLIN BEAZLEY BILLY VINCI MOLLY BAKER

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Paraphernalia / Possession - Marijuana September 3 South Campus Grounds Two resident male students were found in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.

Liquor Underage September 3 St. Monica Hall Resident male student, under the age of 21, was found in possession of alcohol and turned it over to Police.

Liquor Underage September 3 Caughlin Hall Female resident student under the age of 21 was found intoxicated and transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital

Liquor Underage / Paraphenalia / Possession - Marijuana September 4 Sullivan Hall A male resident student, under the age of 21, was found in possession of alcohol, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Criminal Mischief / Theft By Unlawful Taking or Disposition September 4 Tolentine Hall A wildcard reader was discovered vandalized with a missing keypad.

Public Drunkenness September 5 Main Campus Grounds Scott Moore, a 41 y/o unaffiliated male, was discovered intoxicated on campus.

9/11 Memorial Display September 8 – 10 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

President’s Lounge All About The Bagels September 9 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

SAC East Courtyard One Book and St. Thomas of Villanova Lecture: Tara Westover September 9 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Villanova Room

CONFIRMED CUMULATIVE CASES AS OF 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

79 1.32 Million 40.2 Million 219 Million Villanova University (since 8/17/21)

Pennsylvania

CORRECTIONS Factual errors are corrected as soon as they are brought to The Villanovan’s attention. Please send an e-mail to villanovan.eic@gmail.com to report errors.

United States

CAMPUS CALENDAR Turning Points in History with Dipsech Chakrabarty September 8 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Virtual

COVID-19 TRACKER

PSP Recruitment Open House September 9 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Garey Hall Event Room 10A A Capella Auditions September 10 1:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

St. Mary’s Band Room BSU Back to School Cookout September 10 3:00 p.m.

Sheehan BBQ Area Villanova Remembers 9/11 Keynote Speaker and Reception September 10 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Riley Ellipse

Villanova Remembers 9/11 – Interfaith Vigil September 10 4:30 p.m.

Rowan Campus Green Service and Justice Experiences Program Kick-Off Retreat September 12 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Cafe Nova New Student Organization Information Session September 13 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Devon Room

Worldwide

CONFIRMED VACCINATIONS AS OF 8:00 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 6

176 Million 7.15 Million United States

Pennsylvania

Biden Pulls Troops Out Of Afghanistan, Ending War Lydia McFarlane Staff Writer

President Joe Biden ran on the campaign promise of ending the war in Afghanistan and finally returning all troops deployed in Afghanistan back to the United States. On Monday Aug. 30, the last of the American troops in Afghanistan had been returned to the U.S. Though Biden followed through on this promise, the removal of American troops from Afghanistan has quickly turned into a crisis.

Not long after American troops began to withdraw, the Afghan capital of Kabul as well as the US embassy in Afghanistan fell to the terrorist organization the Taliban. President Ashraf Ghani of Afghanistan fled the country and former President Hamid Karzai formed a counsel to assist in the transition of power from the president to the Taliban. A Taliban spokesman told a BBC reporter, “We assure the people in Afghanistan -- there will be no revenge on anyone.”

The spokesman said the heavily armed Taliban fighters stationed on the outskirts of the city were to ensure the peaceful transfer of power. After US officials had de-

scribed the Taliban as “very cooperative” throughout the process of America’s troop withdrawal, a strike on the Kabul airport shook American citizens and military officials alike. Thirteen American service members were killed in the attack, along with at least 170 Afghan citizens and 200 more estimated to have been injured.

Just hours after the explosion, ISIS-K, which stands for the Islamic State Khorasan Province, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that was responsible for the deaths of the 13 American service men and women and the hundreds of dead or injured Afghani citizens.

To assist with the extraction of the American troops, President Biden authorized 6,000 troops to secure the airport in Kabul to ensure the safety of the troops who would be leaving through the airport before the set date of Aug. 31. Sure enough, his plan was successful and the last of the American troops had left on Aug. 30. As the American troops began evacuating and Afghanistan descends even further into danger and chaos almost daily, the status of Afghani innocents has become a hot topic in the news. As of Aug. 31, 31,107 evacuees were

sent to the U.S., with 23,876 of those evacuees falling into the at-risk category.

Amid the chaos that has ensued since President Biden began to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, many Republican leaders and politicians are calling for the resignation, and some even the impeachment, of Biden for his handling of the situation. Representative Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, said on Tuesday that Biden’s management of the Afghanistan crisis “will go down in history as a black mark on our country and certainly will prove that this president is not up for the job.”

South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsay Graham has been among the most outspoken against Biden throughout the Afghanistan crisis. He has repeatedly called for his impeachment, commenting in an interview with CBS, “[Biden] deserves a lot of accountability for this. And I’m sure it will be coming.”

Amid all the criticism he faces, President Biden has stayed firm in his decision to fully withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. In an address to the nation on Aug. 31, a day after the final troops had left Afghanistan,

Biden took responsibility for the deaths and chaos that are ongoing in Afghanistan, while also staunchly defending his decision to get the troops out in the first place.

“I take responsibility for the decision,” Biden said. “The bottom line is, there is no evacuation from the end of a war that you can run without the kinds of complexities, challenges, threats we faced.”

He also addressed specific questions that have been circulating throughout the news regarding his handle on the situation.

“To those asking for a third decade of war in Afghanistan, I ask: What is the vital national interest?”

Biden said. “I refuse to continue a war that was no longer in the service of the vital national interests of our people.”

As President Biden fights to defend his legitimacy as President and the nation mourns the deaths of many of its own service members and Afghani innocents, the almost 20-year war in Afghanistan has ended and the majority of US troops are back on American soil. The complete withdrawal from Afghanistan can be seen as a somber victory, as the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the thousands of lives lost loom over the heads of many Americans.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

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The Villanovan | 3

TED Talk Addresses Issues of Flooding Post Ida ing. She compares global damage costs to the price of groceries for famSarah Wisniewski ilies in the U.S. Flood recovery costs Co-News Editor in 2010 were equivalent to the cost of feeding 20% of the U.S. By the year

Residents of Pennsylvania 2030, the percentage will increase to and other states across the U.S. expe- 77 and continue to rise. rienced severe damage from Hurri “That’s a lot of money. I am cane Ida as it swept across the East taking in terms of groceries because Coast. At least 43 people were report- that is something I can wrap my head ed dead in New York, New Jersey, around,” Smith said in her talk. “But Pennsylvania and Connecticut, while that money can go to anything. The hundreds of thousands of homes national debt. Healthcare. Education. were left without power.

Back to the citizens. We can do a lot.”

Such a storm has sparked a

Smith further explains that larger conversation about flooding the research behind flooding allows and its damaging effects. Assistant civil engineers to be able to pinpoint professor and Director of the Suswhere floods will occur and how tainability Studies Minor and the severe they will be. The problem Sustainable Engineering Minor, forms in the development of housing Virginia Smith, Ph. D. in the College and cities near large water sources of Engineering spoke about the issue such as oceans and rivers. Humans of flooding in her TED talk during need water, but that also puts them at the TEDxVillanovaU event in March risk when it overflows in storms such 2021. In the talk titled, “Shifting the as Hurricane Ida. Cities have been Flood Paradigm,” Smith speaks about growing for decades and as more of how urban growth has led to degrathe population flocks to urban centers, dation of natural water systems. Such landscapes change. This shift results in degradation has left vulnerable commore storm water runoff, a decrease munities at risk during storms and in water quality and greater impacts with extreme repair costs after storms. do to floods.

Smith began her talk by set Although techniques are set ting the scene of month-long flooding in place to deal with floods, the fast that she experienced while researchgrowth of urban populations reduces ing in Sierra Leone. She touched the effectiveness of traditional apupon the powerless feeling of being proaches. caught in a flood and the statistics

Besides solutions becoming that show majority of individuals outdated, low-income populations have been affected in some way by continue to be impacted more harshly this common natural disaster. in floods. Smith explains that low-in Smith goes on to mention the come and unsanctioned housing is economic costs associated with flood- generally located in areas with elevat-

ed flood risks. The damage costs then affect these populations further and create a cycle of economic issues.

Outside of her TED talk Smith explained that wealthier neighborhoods are often on higher grounds and therefore at less risks of flooding during heavy rain periods.

“Historically in a lot of cities there is environmental racism,” Smith explains. “We have to think about how to structure storm water around that. It is not really an issue of equitable distribution cause some places just have greater challenges. How do you identify that and understand that a little bit deeper?”

Professors in the University’s College of Engineering are currently aiming to research this issue. In a program known as the Villanova Center for Resilient Water Systems (VCRWS), engineering researchers work to create solutions to global water challenges, such as those associated with flooding. Although the issue of sustainable stormwater management is a global one, the University has projects in place to test the effectiveness of solutions. Projects include the Bio Infiltration Traffic Island which is a rain garden located on West Campus, “The Commons” project which includes nine rain gardens, the Constructed Stormwater Wetland which treats over 42 acres of stormwater runoff on campus and the I-95 PennDOT Project that deals with stormwater runoff on the interstate.

The results of such projects can further advise other areas on how

to manage stormwater and floods equitably and effectively.

Smith, alongside other professors, will also be writing the Storm Water Manual for the state of Pennsylvania. This work can help advise local governments and policy makers about new solutions to flooding and how to do better for community members.

In her TED talk, Smith advises viewers to get involved as well.

Research can provide evidence for solutions but community members, students and anyone looking to make a difference can excel progress by using their voice and staying educated on such issues.

“The great thing about being a professor is that you get to work with the next generation that is going to find solutions,” Smith said outside of her TED talk. “I think this is a problem not only facing engineers but all of us. My goal for this topic would be to inspire people to start thinking about these big issues and push them ahead.”

Students at the University can get involved with the Student Sustainability Committee or Environmental Group to learn more about such issues and begin to act.

There is also a Climate Change Panel being held on Sept. 23.

“The time to act is now,” Smith advises.

The full TED talk, “Shifting the Flood Paradigm,” can be found on the TEDx Talks YouTube channel or the Ted Talk website.

Meet the Greeks: Students Get to Know Greek Life Keely Dumouchel Staff Writer

Serving soft pretzels and Insomnia cookies, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life hosted a “Meet the Greeks” event for freshmen and Greek organizations.

On Sept. 2, 26 Greek organizations gathered at the Oreo for potential new members (PNMs) to learn more about them. This included the fraternities, sororities and multicultural groups on campus. Each chapter decorated a table with its accomplishments, candy and letters, and some even handed out flyers, for interested students to come to the table and talk with them. The Oreo was extremely crowded with sorority and fraternity members and potential new members, each excited to be together again in-person and meet new people face-to-face.

Students interested in the recruitment process seemed really appreciative about meeting the Greek organizations.

A student and her friends, all freshmen looking to rush a Panhellenic sorority, had been going to each sorority table to talk with the sorority members to learn more about them. They were very excited to meet the different chapters.

“We’ve gotten to hear a little bit about what each sororities’ causes are, like their philanthropy, and one girl told us about the bond she has with the other girls in her chapter,” one of the fresh-

men said. “It’s been good to hear little bits of information to distinguish what sororities stand out to us.”

All of the friends agreed and were looking forward to talking with other sororities.

Sorority and fraternity members loved talking with potential new members.

“We got to know a lot of

great PNMs,” said Delia Bartucca, a senior in the panhellenic sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. “Excitement’s been high, we’re so excited to get new members. All the girls have been super friendly.”

Although sorority and fraternity rush does not officially begin until the spring semester, meeting the PNMs now allows panhellenic and fraternity chap-

Members of Alpha Gamma Delta attended the Meet the Greeks event.

Courtesy of AGD Villanova

ters to get to know the incoming freshmen before the recruitment process begins. As for the multicultural organizations, each chapter has a different recruitment process and can recruit new members this semester. There are seven chapters of multicultural Greek council fraternities and sororities, each for underrepresented students to promote leadership and academic success.

Overall, the Meet the Greeks event introduced many students to Greek life and allowed chapters to endorse themselves.

This was especially important for people to learn about a brand new sorority that just joined the Panhellenic community at Villanova, Gamma Phi Beta. The goal of the Meet the Greeks event was to promote Greek life, to inform students about their presence on campus and to get students involved.

The success of Meet the Greeks seems to hopefully foreshadow the amount of participation in the recruitment process across all fraternities and sororities. For more information about Greek life at Villanova, visit the Villanova fraternity and sorority life website and follow the organizations on Instagram. The chapters post regular updates on important events and information about their purpose.

It is important for freshmen to learn about the organizations they might be interested in, and Meet the Greeks allowed them to achieve that.

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Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Intramural Sports Return to Campus for the Fall Molly Mook Staff Writer

The University’s Intramural Sports Program is making a comeback to its traditional format this year after a few semesters were largely impacted by COVID-19 and the restrictions that went along with the pandemic.

“The Intramural Sports Program is dedicated to fostering a fun, safe environment for the Villanova Community to compete in a variety of sports through proficiently organized leagues, tournaments and one-day events,” according to the Villanova Recreation webpage.

“We fully intend to have the same offerings that we had in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 before being sent home in the spring semester prematurely,” said University Aquatics, Intramural and Recreation Coordinator, Michael Hay.

The plan is to offer the full slate of traditional sports this year.

That means there will be sand volleyball, flag football, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, basketball, handball, indoor soccer, softball, tennis and ultimate frisbee, along with consideration for some additional tournaments too.

This time last year, the program was able to offer some alternative programs, including yard games that allowed for outdoor play and social distancing. After Easter, some other options were available, such as softball, tennis and outdoor basketball, with participants wearing masks.

“It was definitely a huge adjustment moving from high energy sports to yard games,” senior and one of the Intramural Commissioners Matt Golonka said.

“As much as I love Kan Jam, I’m excited to get back to our normal slate of offerings so underclassmen can enjoy our regular sports too.”

Senior Katie Canning and Intramural Commissioner alongside Golonka and Kolin Thievon, feels similarly.

“This year, I am definitely most excited to be able to once again offer all of our sports at full capacity,” Canning said. “While we made the most of our entirely outdoor seasons last year, it will be exciting to return to what we know and love.”

A common sentiment from students is that the community and atmosphere of intramural sports are the best parts.

“My favorite part of intramurals is that they provide a fun yet competitive atmosphere for students like me who want to stick with their high school sport but don’t have the time to commit to a club team,” junior Matt O’Donnell said. “I also enjoy that Villanova offers different leagues that are inclusive to everyone. The coed teams are equally challenging and allow me to play and have fun with all of my friends, not just the guys.”

Besides being on staff, Canning said her favorite part of the program is “getting to know other Villanova students and watching them compete week after week.

It’s a really special organization, in that we interact with and run leagues for about 2,000 students

every single week. No other student-run organization does so, which I believe is a testament to how hardworking and enthusiastic our staff is.”

Sign-ups for sand volleyball, flag football and soccer took place from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2, and registration for the remaining sports will take place throughout the year as the starts of the various seasons get closer. Additional information can be found on the Intramural Registration page on the University’s Recreation website.

Looking ahead, Hay said

that he is hopeful that they will be able “to have these offerings without any additional restrictions or safety precautions,” but no one can be truly sure what “unforeseen restrictions or protocols may affect our intention to offer these sports.”

Finally, the Intramural Program hopes to increase participation in the area of Esports as it is planning on continuing to provide and refine these offerings too. The Recreation website will provide details on Esports as soon as they become available.

The 2021 Intramural Basketball champions pose after their win.

Courtesy of Villanova Recreation

Hurricane Ida Brings Rainfall and Tornadoes Nearby Owen Hewitt Staff Writer

On Wednesday Sept. 1, the remnants of Hurricane Ida slammed the Mid-Atlantic area with rain and tornadoes, causing damage and historic life-threatening flooding.

As a category four hurricane at landfall, Ida left approximately one million people in the state of Louisiana without power and caused significant damage to homes and businesses in coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and northwest Cuba.

While repairs of the Gulf Coast got underway, the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast were walloped by the system, which had de-intensified into a tropical depression. The storm spawned an EF-3 tornado in Mullica Hill, NJ, 21 miles away from campus as the crow flies. The tornado caused significant damage to several homes in the area and brought down trees.

The National Weather Service Philadelphia Mount Holly confirmed that a total of seven tornadoes hit the Philadelphia region on Wednesday.

Five storm-related deaths have been reported across the state, and thousands of Pennsylvanians had to be rescued from

floodwaters, according to an estimate by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Director Randy Padfield. Fox29 Philadelphia reported that more than 10,000 people in areas affected by the storm were without power on Wednesday.

The Schuylkill River also flooded after the Philadelphia area received a little less than four and a half inches of rain, on average.

The water level of the river was reported as being close to 16 feet, two feet more than the 14 necessary to deem the event a “Major Flood.” The city urged people to stay home via its Twitter account Thursday as flooding completely submerged and closed off I-676 and 1-76, along with many other roads. While I-76 has since reopened, I-767 is still closed at the time of writing.

SEPTA also was affected by Ida’s remnants, with some trains being significantly delayed and other routes being canceled completely. According to septa.org, stretches of both the Norristown High Speed Line and the Paoli Thorndale line were suspended as of Saturday afternoon.

As a response to the flooding, the American Red Cross has established four temporary shelters in the downtown area, and President Joe Biden said Thursday at the White House that FEMA

assistance would be sent to Pennsylvania, along with New York and New Jersey.

President Biden also pointed out Ida’s connection to the rapidly warming climate, saying that Ida served as another reminder that “these extreme storms and the climate crisis are here.”

Other leaders in the area also pointed out the storm’s connection to climate change. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said Thursday that “extreme weather events like Ida are not isolated incidents. They are another indication of the worsening climate crisis.”

The connection Mayor Kenney and President Biden speak of stems from the Gulf of Mexico, where the storm formed. Ida was fueled by water that, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, may have been three to five degrees hotter than it was on average in the 1990s.

That difference in warmth is likely to blame for the higher intensity of hurricane systems in the past few years, as storms are able to intake greater energy from warmer water, which leads to higher velocities.

And while warm water led to the record intensity Ida pummeled Louisiana with, warmth in the air likely facilitated the down-

pour faced on the east coast. For every degree Celsius warmer the air is, it is able to hold seven percent more moisture, according to The Washington Post. This means that storms like Ida can hold more rainfall and affect areas further inland, areas that may not have robust flood prevention systems.

Supporters of the Senate-passed bipartisan $46 billion dollar infrastructure bill are using the hurricane as a forewarning of storms to come, as models project that hurricanes will only get stronger and more intense as the climate warms.

The bill includes significant funding for building stronger fortifications against flooding in many different coastal regions.

Similar funding was issued to Louisiana to assist the state with its levee-building project, completed in 2018. The federal levees around New Orleans have allowed the city to avoid any major flooding from both Hurricanes Ida and Laura, two of the strongest systems to hit the bayou since the 1850s.

The repairs to Philadelphia and surrounding areas currently have no set timetable, though according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a “long cleanup” is expected for the city. Only time will tell how long the damage to the Southeastern Pennsylvania region will take to repair.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The Villanovan | 5

OPINION

OPINION

Texas Abortion Law Strips Women of Bodily Autonomy Vivi Melkonian Co-Opinion Editor Continued from p.1

meticulous design of this law made sure that there was no government body that could be sued before its passing.

The Supreme Court waited until after the law went into effect to release their rulings and respective statements. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that they were “not in a position to stop” the passage of this law and will not rule on its constitutionality, according to Adam Liptak of the New York Times.

This law strips women of control over their own bodies. The New York Times reported that 8090% of abortions in Texas occur after the first six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. Therefore this bill is a near total ban on abortion for women in Texas.

Texas is just one of many states set on passing extremely restrictive abortion laws.

The effects of the law are already being seen as the clinics do not want to risk legal turmoil.

The New York Times reports that the roughly 24 clinics in Texas are abiding by the law and ceasing all abortion procedures after six weeks of pregnancy, or when a

Jacob Artz Staff Writer

Women in Texas protest Senate Bill 8 and its restrictions on abortion.

Courtesy of Victor J. Blue/The New York Times

heartbeat is detected.

The devious but successful nature of this law makes it likely to be mimicked in other Republican-led states, fixed on fulfilling their pro-life agendas. This law is terrifying and stands in direct opposition to Roe v. Wade and rights that women have been fighting for for decades. It is absurd and frightening that legislation seems

to be traveling back in time 48 years to appease people who think it is their business what an entire nation of women does with their bodies.

Furthermore, these decisions should not be made my male lawmakers who have never and will never face the decision of whether or not to get an abortion themselves. This decision lies

between a woman and her doctor and should not be the business of a legislative body.

Going to a Catholic university may limit some conversations about abortion rights but in instances of drastic injustice, being silent is unacceptable. Women’s rights are being jeopardized and violated and we have a responsibility to speak up.

Falvey Memorial Library is Alive Again

exams or wrote papers. On these floors, there would also be employees pulling books from the shelves.

The mysterious and sometimes

Where is the nearest bathscary Falvey West stacks would room in this building? Where do house students who really needed I find the books that I selected online? Can you look up this book to get work done at the last minfor my Ancients or Theology class ute or host professors looking for coming up this week? Where can I that one source they needed for an find VR3 or Falvey 415? How do I academic endeavor.

The pandemic hit and the access Old Falvey? We are visitors. whole operation changed. The serCan we just take a look around? vice desk was void of any human Do you have that book available activity and if one had a question, on the shelves? Are the third and an employee would help from the fourth floors open to the public? screen. Some of the desks from the Can I get a study room upstairs?

These are all questions that third and fourth floors were taken down to the first floor so students employees at the service desk are could have a reprieve from doing more than willing to answer now that we have progressed away from work in their rooms. The desks were socially distant, and masks the worst of the pandemic and were required at all times. A floor are making our way back to normalcy. As a service desk worker at that once had sound reverberating Falvey Library, it is awesome to see everywhere now could hear a pin drop. It felt like the fourth floor everyone in person collaborating was moved down a few flights of on projects and asking questions that we can help with. In addition, stairs. The tutoring and learning students are seeing and conversing service offices were opened only on a limited basis, and the third with old friends as they walk into and fourth floors along with Falvey Falvey Memorial Library for class West were only accessible to emor to finish homework.

For perspective, we must go ployees.

As we now come into the back to March of 2020. The first Fall 2021 semester, we can sense floor was full of students working together on schoolwork and study- that the Falvey Library is back. ing. On the second floor, the tutor- The first floor is a space of great ing and assistance services like the learning and teamwork. The second floor offices are fully open and Math Learning Resource Center ready to help students. The doors and the Writing Center were in full instruction mode. On the third to the third and fourth floors along with Falvey West are open again to and fourth floors, students were students and faculty. Community hard at work as they studied for

Students are hard at work on the first floor of the Falvey Memorial Library Courtesy of Falvey Memorial Library

members can now do their schoolwork there once again and look for books that they need for classes.

There are positives that came out of the pandemic, including the new pick up and go system for selected books. This system makes it much easier for students and faculty because the service desk does not have to be open for the patron to obtain the book. Previously, workers at the desk would have to get the patron’s wildcard and go to the back room to find the book. With the new pick up and go method, we charge the book out to the patron, wrap their book or books in a paper with their last name and they can pick up the book whenever they want.

One of the hot items at Falvey Library, the group study rooms, are not available at this time due to Falvey Library employees using them. They are using them because as Luisa Cywinski, Director of Access Services, said, “The employees are working in crowded spaces and this would require them to wear masks all day. We are using these spaces so they can have a break from wearing masks and conduct meetings there.”

Other additions to the Falvey Library include two new printers that are to the left of the TechZone and another singular printer has been moved to the back by the exit door.

6 | The Villanovan

EDITORIAL BOARD

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

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

CATE McCUSKER Editor-in-Chief JACK ROBERGE MADISON BURKE TINA ARON VIVI MELKONIAN

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

OPINION

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.

In Hot Water: Global Warming Affected Hurricane Ida

Biden has spoken out in support of these states, sending the Zoe Kim National Guard to their rescue. Not Staff Writer sparing any expenses, the President has since said to the governors, “We’re providing any help that you’re going

Sunday afternoon, Hurricane to need. We’re going to stand with Ida hit New Orleans, leaving the city you and the people of the Gulf as devastated. With the city flooded long as it takes for you to recover.” and without power, it is said to be

But it raises the question of the strongest hurricane in the past how much this will cost. Analysts have 165 years. For 16 hours, Ida whirled estimated a cost of $15-20 billion for relentlessly, not weakening over land recovering damaged property, but as as researchers expected. Days before, the storm progresses, the costs will Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New rise significantly.

Some fear it could Orleans advised civilians to “hunker reach up to $80 billion.

It is expected down” and to not leave their houses. for hurricane recovery expenses to be Civilians were warned to not visit the high.

Hurricane Katrina cost nearly hospitals or seek police or ambulance $164 billion in economic losses. But services until the storm calmed. the United Nations Weather Agency

The city braced itself for the reported global weather disasters creworst, but it never expected this. Ida ate seven times more damage today began in Port Fourchon and then in than in the 1970s.

Lafourche Parish on Sunday, leavAfter Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida leaves a path of destroyed city signs in its wake. ing 560,000 people without power.

New Orleans invested billions in reCourtesy of Reuters/Adrees Latif It will still be weeks or months until construction and hurricane and storm their power returns. With half of the in water significantly rose, fueling more green-house gasses, hurricane precautions.

It built and rebuilt levees, houses severely damaged, the city these storms to grow stronger. Waand storm activity will only rise. This floodwalls and floodgates after the has never experienced this degree of ter around the coast was 85 degrees greatly affects people living along the tragedy of Katrina.

These preventives damage. Though Ida is being comFahrenheit, which led to its faster Gulf Coast. While they had days to withheld Ida but flooded New Orlepared to Katrina, it is far more danwind speeds. NOAA researcher, Chris evacuate and hunker down, the next ans.

It will take weeks and months to gerous. As of this week, the storm has Slocum, explained that Ida is more hurricanes may give them hours. restore New Orleans to its initial state. killed seven people. It was so strong dangerous because it followed the When it comes to these hurricanes,

We need to reassess how to that it was able to reverse the flow of warmer water. the worst is yet to come with global approach these hurricanes. Rather the Mississippi River. Compared to

“Ida found the perfect path warming. than draining and rebuilding, we need other storms, Ida strengthened within across the gulf, where the warmest

The federal government is to prevent these storms from becomhours, reaching 150 miles per hour. In water is,” Slocum said. reacting quickly to the effects of Huring more damaging and occurring. one day, the hurricane grew 150 mph It has also brought more rain- ricane Ida. President Joe Biden said to Only last year, there were 30 named stronger. But why? fall following these storms. This has Louisiana and Mississippi that “We’re storms.

It would be in our greatest

Researchers accredited the been a pattern. Rainfall from Hurrihere to help you get back on your interest to work towards halting global warmer water to its incredible growth. cane Harvey was 15% worse because feet,” learning from our failure after warming.

Over the past 40 years, temperatures of global warming. As we release Katrina.

The Unfortunate Mixed Messaging COVID Vaccines Steven Makino Staff Writer

polarization and vaccine hesitancy.

The vaccines have been shown by statistical data to greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization

As the COVID-19 vaccination efforts persist with driving force, and death for more vulnerable groups. With the Pfitzer vaccine it has led to a greater conflict that recently being granted full FDA apis not only in the realm of politics proval and Moderna on the way, it but also in everyday life. Some should be assumed that more people find themselves in favor of vaccine would want to voluntarily get the mandates for all, while others feel vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy that this is an encroachment of remains steady with the number of basic freedoms for businesses and vaccinations dwindling as each day their institutions to force them into taking the vaccine. Sadly, this grow- goes on. I firmly believe that a big part of the reason why is due to the ing divide between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated in the United fact that many of the mainstream media outlets have hardened on the States shows no sign of dissipating point that even vaccinated people anytime soon. Places such as New should worry about the virus. With York City are implementing bold initiatives which essentially prohibit stories of breakthrough cases consistently being promoted as a means the unvaccinated from indoor dining and enjoying the various venues of fear-mongering, the media has of indoor entertainment, with some partly contributed to a message that vaccines are not enough. It doesn’t major cities taking this approach just end with the media promoting into consideration. While I like to this mixed-messaging on the efficacy believe these measures came from of the vaccines guidelines. Some good intentions, I believe that expolitical figures are continuing to treme efforts, such as this, and the impose restrictions not truly based mixed messaging from the mainon science. An example of this is stream media and political leaders in Washington D.C., where Mayor have done great harm in terms of

Muriel Bowser in the beginning of August had ordered an indoor mask mandate for everyone over the age of two, regardless of vaccination status. This on its own acts as mixed messaging, as it has led to some question why they would even get the vaccine since the one of the main appeals of the vaccine promoted by many, even the Biden Administration with President Joe Biden’s “Masked or Vaxxed” statement, is that getting vaccinated is key to living life normally. To add to this mixed messaging, a gym in D.C. called the D.C. Fitness Alliance had responded to this mandate by offering an alternate proposal: it requested that it be allowed to operate on a policy in which all its members must be vaccinated in order to enter and bypass the need for masks. This request was denied by the mayor’s office, which shows that her decision is not based on concrete science, and it is one of several examples across the country of policies that have only served to further ignite vaccine hesitancy.

Ultimately, I believe that despite the proven effectiveness of the

vaccine and given the information gathered on the deadliness of the virus, it should be a person’s choice as to whether to get the shot or not.

I believe mainstream media and much of the current administration have conveyed mixed signaling as to the actual effectiveness of the vaccine against serious illness. In almost all cases of a “breakthrough” infection for vaccinated Americans, everyone has smoothly recovered. In addition, every adult has the ability to assess their own risk and determine what course of action to take for themselves and their families.

While taking the vaccine is the decision backed up by the data, it may not be in one’s interest for whatever understandable reason that person may have, and this should not be easily discredited. I believe that the vaccine is effective and if someone is vaccinated, they can resume normal life despite being around unvaccinated people. Hopefully, this fact is promoted more by news and political personnel so that we may again fully experience normalcy and end the unnecessary planarization created by the pandemic.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

OPINION

The Afghanistan War Was All About the Money Stephen Prager Staff Writer

This past Tuesday closed the final chaotic chapter of the longest war in American history. And nearly a week later, it still doesn’t quite seem real. Most students at Villanova are not old enough to remember a time when Americans were not deployed in Afghanistan, and yet it has never felt like a generation-defining endeavor in the way that Vietnam was to the baby boomers or World War II was to the Greatest Generation. Instead, for those of us without a direct connection to a service member, the war in Afghanistan has seemed to exist more as a force of nature than a man-made conflict that could ever come to a definitive conclusion. It has always just been there, rumbling on in the background.

Now that the final plane has left Kabul, this 20-year war can be viewed in its totality with fresh eyes as the pointless, inhumane atrocity that it was. Despite the flowery rhetoric of three successive administrations about “democracy” and “human rights,” it was, from beginning to end, an utterly fruitless endeavor that served no purpose other than to make a select group of defense contractors, Afghan warlords and corrupt politicians filthy rich at the expense of more than 240,000 lives and nearly $2.3 trillion.

It has become conventional wisdom that the war began with a clear moral and strategic objective and devolved into chaos in its later years. Amid the heat of the withdrawal, President Joe Biden expressed this sentiment, saying, “We went to Afghanistan almost 20 years ago with clear goals: Get those who attacked us on September 11, 2001, and make sure Al Qaeda could not use Afghanistan as a base from which to attack us again … Our mission ... was never supposed to

have been nation-building. It was never supposed to be creating a unified, centralized democracy.”

While he is right in the narrow sense that the war’s aims became evermore abstract and unclear as it wore on, that goal of capturing Osama bin Laden and preventing Afghanistan from becoming a safe harbor for terrorists could have been accomplished within months rather than decades. In the fall of 2001, after an aggressive American bombing campaign, the Taliban announced a willingness to not only hand Bin Laden over for a trial but to step down from power, surrender to the U.S.-backed interim president, give up their weapons and return to their home villages.

One would think that in a self-proclaimed “war on terror,” to capture the mastermind of Al Qaeda and evaporate the regime that sheltered him would be a massive victory. Instead, the Bush Administration rejected the deal, Bin Laden escaped to Pakistan and the Taliban remained an active player in the nation’s politics, plunging the U.S. into two decades of hellish futility. The Taliban became an effective insurgency that managed to increase its territorial control as the U.S. propped up a ludicrously corrupt and incompetent government and armed warlords notorious for roles in drug and human trafficking. All the while, U.S. bombing raids and drone strikes killed thousands of civilians per year.

Presidents from both parties promised for years that progress was being made and victory was just around the corner. In reality, as we now know from The Washington Post’s brilliant “Afghanistan Papers” report in 2019, many of the most senior generals and diplomats had expressed that the war had become an unwinnable debacle in candid interviews with oversight authorities. In one 2015 interview with the Special Inspector

General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Douglas Lute, a three-star general and war czar under the Bush and Obama Administrations explained, “We didn’t have the foggiest notion of what we were undertaking...We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan.”

Many others expressed concern that statistics were often manipulated or outright fabricated.

“Every data point was altered to present the best picture possible,” said Army colonel Bob Crowley.

John Sopko, whose agency conducted the interviews described the reality of Afghanistan most concisely: “The American people have constantly been lied to.”

The baffling decisions to keep a military in the country, to surge troops and to expand our bombing campaign long after concrete objectives had withered away make much more sense when the political and economic incentives behind them are examined. The truth of the matter is that the Afghanistan War never existed to be won. It existed to be had.

Over the last 20 years, the defense industry spent astonishing amounts of money persuading politicians to keep the war running even as it turned into a quagmire. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the defense industry spent $285 million on campaign contributions and $2.5 billion on lobbying between 2001 and 2021. These expenditures have been worth their while, and then some. According to a report from the Intercept, the stock values of America’s top five defense contractors – Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics – have increased almost ten-fold over the course of the war, outpacing the rest of the stock market by 58%.

Of course, Biden’s withdrawal

The Villanovan | 7

threatened these massive profits, which explains the torrent of condemnation and nonstop coverage from the entirety of mainstream media - both conservative and liberal - after more than five years of completely ignoring the war’s carnage.

Many of the talking heads who emerged on cable news in recent weeks to decry the horror of the withdrawal currently sit on the corporate boards of the companies with the most to lose from our exit.

Four-star general David Petraeus, who castigated the withdrawal as a “Dunkirk moment” on Fox News and demanded Biden “reverse the decision,” sits on the board of the cybersecurity contractor Optiv Security, which contracts with the Pentagon and whose parent company owns several aerospace companies. Likewise, former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Leon Panetta, who likened Biden’s withdrawal to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion on CNN, is a senior counselor to the defense consulting firm Beacon Global Strategies. These are just two examples out of dozens in which the American people were inundated with the apocalyptic musings of the very same people who architected the war, helped to cover up its failings and now serve to profit from its continuation.

The 20-year cataclysm of Afghanistan has had virtually no upside for those of us who are not defense contractors, American politicians or exiled Afghan president Ashraf Ghani (who fled the country in a helicopter full of cash as the Taliban rolled over the army the U.S. has been “training” for the last two decades). But if anything is to be gained from this nightmare, it’s the knowledge that our government and its endless wars are built on the self-dealing and perverse incentives of the most powerful. We must remember this when the next absurd war is offered up and say in a unified voice: “no.”

Trump’s Taliban Deal Was a Mess, but This Was Biden Brendan Donoghue Staff Writer

At a White House press conference on the Afghanistan withdrawal last Thursday, President Joe Biden was asked by Fox News’ Peter Doocy whether he bore “any responsibility for the way things have unfolded over the last two weeks.” Biden’s response began the way one might expect, considering he claimed just days before that the buck stops with him.

I bear responsibility for, fundamentally, all that’s happened of late,” Biden said.

In the same breath, however, the president went into his favorite excuse for the Afghanistan debacle: “But here’s the deal...you know as well as I do that the former president made a deal with the Taliban that he would get all American forces out of Afghanistan.”

Pointing to former President Donald Trump’s 2020 deal with the Taliban to remove American forces from Afghanistan has been popular among President Biden and other White House staff. On the facts of the deal, they are not wrong. The Trump Administration did reach an agreement with the Taliban to remove American forces from Afghanistan, and it is a blot on the former president’s foreign policy record. According to the Washington Post, the deal negotiated by Trump’s Secretary of State

Mike Pompeo required that the United States and other NATO countries decrease their troop presence from around 14,000 to around 8,600 within 100 days and that they execute a complete withdrawal in just under 10 months. The deal also stipulated that some 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the United States would be released.

Such a deal is an abomination, fueled by Trump’s misplaced belief that the Afghanistan conflict was a “forever war” or that it was not in America’s interest to maintain troop presence in the country. In his quest to be seen as the “dealmaker-in-chief,” Trump periodically demonstrated a

willingness to bring to the table those who had no place sitting across from the United States, therefore legitimizing some of the most reprehensible individuals on the planet. The Taliban – a group that willingly sheltered Osama bin Laden and other architects of the deadliest terror attack to take place on American soil – should never have been legitimized by the president and secretary of state, and the Trump Administration did a disservice in doing so.

While Trump’s agreement with the Taliban was a mistake, President Biden seems to be under the impression that he was obliged to

Biden delivers a speech amid unrest in Afghanistan.

Courtesy of CNN

make good on the deal. He was not.

Presidents have remarkable discretion (relative to other government powers) in the area of foreign policy under Article 2 of the Constitution, and no one president is required to continue the foreign policy of another. President Biden himself understands this basic reality of foreign policy, which a casual glance at his record proves.

He overturned Trump-era policy by rejoining both the Paris Climate Accord and World Health Organization on his first day as president (just hours after taking the oath of office). He has signaled a willingness to negotiate a nuclear treaty with Iran as recently as Aug. 27, further demonstrating his desire to undo his predecessor’s foreign policy decisions.

Biden knows that his hands were not tied by the Trump Administration, but he will continue to imply otherwise so long as he needs to “take full responsibility.” The not-so-secret truth is that this is Biden’s policy. He wanted out of Afghanistan just as badly as Trump did. In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Biden admitted that he would have “tried to figure out how to withdraw those troops” even without a Trump-Taliban agreement. He saw an opening to remove troops and went for it without looking back. This was his call and no one else’s. Trump made a bad deal, but this botchery and the heart-wrenching casualties that have come with it are on Biden.

8 | The Villanovan

OPINION

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Digital Minimalism is the Key to Outpacing Competition

strued, and subject for another day, this adage pours the foundation for a pathway out of smartphone dystopia and into a meaningful life. Let’s

A brief walk around camfirst examine the word, “deliberate” pus is all one needs to realize we are and contrast it with our present use facing an attention crisis, one that is of the cell phone. We can think of rendering our generation seemingly this term as meaning “purposeful” helpless. It is all too evident that our and examine different methods for individual attention is now at the regaining a life “full of purpose.” mercy of a new reflex. Pull out your

In his best-selling book titled, phone. The average American per“Digital Minimalism,” Cal Newport forms this inconspicuous act roughly references a study he conducted in 262 times per day, and it is time we which 1,600 individuals volunteered seriously examine the consequences to resign from smartphone use for 30 (reviews.org). Unpacking this dread- days. Upon conclusion of the study, a ful statistic, it is important to undercommon denominator within particistand that the individual “checks” of pant feedback was a lack of activities your cell phone are pseudo-satisfying to fulfill their newfound, screen-free a wide variety of needs that conflict time. He reasons that immersive with your biological best interest. smartphone use has quietly replaced

It is the only time in history deliberate, meaningful hobbies, and that a five-inch screen can cure bore- thus, in turn, robbed us of our hapdom, deliver constant social feedback piness. For example, what happened and assist in escaping discomfort in to the hobby of woodworking? Is the most innocuous of fashions. It is there a shortage of wood or has a thus my argument that this all-powdigital screen proved a worthy nemeerful, multifaceted device that we sis? The latter is most certainly true, know as the cell phone presents the and its consequences span from your most serious threat of diverting our résumé all the way to your mental attention away from what is most health. important in our life.

The WVEA reports that

The woods of Concord, teenagers average about seven hours Massachusetts are the home to a of screen time per day. Holding true wooden sign that marks the entrance to my subtitle, I now present the to what was once the home of Henry most glaring opportunity to outpace David Thoreau. Inscribed with your competition: Begin by replacing white paint, the sign reads, “I went half your current screen time with to the woods because I wished to live deliberate work or a meaningful deliberately…” While the reasoning hobby. Conveniently, I have subjectfor Thoreau’s retreat is often miscon- ed myself to this treatment and was John Angelella Staff Writer

so astounded with the results that I decided to write this article.

To start, I was averaging roughly four hours of iPhone screen time per day, so my prescription called for two hours each day dedicated to deliberate activity, in which I chose reading. On average, following this daily time allotment, it took me five days to complete a 300-page book.

Over the course of the first month, this scaled to me reading six books, and zooming out even further, about 18 books in one summer. With relative ease, I arrived this semester on campus with about 5,400 pages of new knowledge, all thanks to my replacement of digital numbing with purposeful hobbies. Thus, I invite you to consider the exponential positive effects of such behavior scaled over many months, years or decades.

By the time your peers even decide to raise their heads from LED-despair, your results will be compounding and exuding the glow of earnest effort and a life well-lived.

Now that we have covered how a decrease in screen time will exponentiate creative output, let’s consider how it can mitigate the inevitable depression that lies within the abyss of social media. Ask yourself: How do I feel after scrolling Instagram for one hour? I’m making an educated guess that your response included one of the following phrases: inadequate, unproductive, self-conscious, disconnected, excluded, jealous and the list goes on.

This is the nature of the beast, and it is all but fortuitous. A quick swipe down your handheld slot machine has refreshed your feed to the newest post of your ex-best friend. She has a boyfriend now, and he’s attractive.

Unfortunately, your brain is not comfortable being exposed to this 24/7 digital showroom: A constant source for comparing the best in others with the worst in ourselves.

My condemnation of social media is not entirely directed at its users, as these apps are working around the clock to ensure you remain lost in the void. Despite their adverse effects, I can do nothing but applaud the designers who have successfully hacked into your brain chemistry in pursuit of beaucoup bucks. Evolution has designed the brain to be cognizant of one’s position within the social hierarchy, and these apps are aware of such a fact.

These mechanisms, of course, are beneficial to ensuring your survival and reproductive capabilities. However, they were never meant to be hyper stimulated, especially by a metal device in a pocket.

We are now left pulling out our phones 262 times per day to monitor our statuses within the tribe. It is this very trap that induces depression, anxiety and worse and distracts us from pursuing the meaningful work that characterizes a happy and fulfilled life. Similar to previous advice, delete social media for one week and report back to me how you feel. You know where I am placing my money.

Donda Proves Record Labels are Bad for Music

tank its sales due to the high possibillabel figuratively milked the artist until ity of an unfinished album, putting his contract expired later that year. them further in the debt they owe to As a result, Young Thug released five the label for using their equipment. subpar albums in an eight month peThis debt follows artists throughout riod. This hurt the artist’s reputation

On the early morning of their entire careers until they make it during that time, but thankfully, he Aug. 29, Kanye West finally dropped big and start to pay it off.

However, got out of that company and became “Donda,” an album that he teased to this does not necessarily mean they more successful, never replicating that release in July 2020. This came after make a profit, as it may take several obscene amount of production since. numerous listening parties sprinkled successful releases to overcome the

The main goal for record throughout the summer with no huge debt they put themselves in.

As labels is to manipulate artists into concrete release date in sight. This a result, many artists are pressured to making them the most money posseemingly random time to deliver an create album after album, often prosible, while barely providing basic album was a surprise to everyone, ducing strings of rushed and poorly needs.

Sadly this extends even to even to West. constructed projects that struggle to death, as labels tend to release terri Later that day, West dramake sales. ble post-mortem albums containing matically took to Instagram with a

This vicious cycle was notori- unfinished music the artists produced statement, exclaiming that Universal ously seen with Young Thug. In 2014, before death. In very few cases, some Music Group, the parent company the artist ran into issues with his label of these albums are well-received, to his record label, released “Donda” at the time, 1017 Records, and want- such as Pop Smoke’s “Shoot for the without his approval. This made more ed out.

However, he was trapped into Stars Aim for the Moon,” but that sense, as he seemingly had no intena legal agreement, as he originally did album was basically finished before he tion to release the album anytime not understand the conditions of his died. His next album did worse, with soon for the sake of more listening contract, as per Buzzfeed.

Owning many of the songs sounding unfinparties. Luckily for West, his album much of Young Thug’s revenue, his ished with features from other artists was basically finished upon its surprise drop. But, this behavior from a record label could be incredibly damaging and shows their exploitative nature towards artists that is commonplace within the music industry.

Record labels make it impossible for artists to have any control early in their careers, often making them owe money until they become popular. Prince was an artist greatly opposed to record labels, making many comments over his career portraying his disdain towards his contract with Warner Bros. He compared modern day record label signings to indentured servitude, in which artists have little to no control over their music or how it is packaged, as per Rolling Stone.

West claims his 10th album “Donda” was released without his approval.

Releasing a smaller artist’s Courtesy of EPA music without their approval could Derek Ramirez Jerez Staff Writer

trying to hide this fact. This second album did not need to be released, but the record label had no remorse for a deceased rapper’s reputation.

Even worse was the case of XXXTentacion, in which after his death in 2018, his record label released three new albums and a deluxe album for “?,”, which included 94 songs across all four pieces, all released within one year. Many of these songs are almost entirely composed of other artists with XXXTentacion barely featured in them, or they are instrumentals of already released songs and random studio sessions that the label happened to record. The most egregious of these examples is the “song” titled “Jah on drums,” which features XXXTentacion playing drums for 59 seconds.

If the label wanted to commemorate XXXTentacion, that would be fine. The issue with this is the money they received for the streams that these additional songs produced, showing a clear motive.

None of his post-mortem albums were well-received, and many people saw through the label’s guise. His label saw an opportunity to make loads of money from a dead artist and seized it, disregarding what it could have meant for his image after his death.

Simply put, record labels are bad for music. They exploit artists for money, practically forcing them to make bad music in order to make up debt, and even after death they find ways to tarnish the legacy these artists left behind. With record labels increasing in revenue by the year, as per Music Business Worldwide, this manipulation seems to have no end in sight.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

CULTURE

The Villanovan | 9

CULTURE

Villanova’s New University Race and Justice Course Skylar Musick Staff Writer Continued from p.1 “The Task Force sent Father Peter its report this past summer in which the Steering Committee recommended a wide-ranging set of recommendations that cross all aspects of university life. We were beyond thrilled that Father Peter, Provost Maggitti, Dean Lindenmeyr and Chair Gallicchio all supported the URJC pilot and agreed to make it happen by this fall. We are grateful for their support.

Abugideiri added, “Dr. Terry Nance, Dr. Sherry Bowen, and I, as the co-chairs of the Aequitas Subcommittee on the URJC, along with the committee members, designed an incredibly innovative course during the Spring 2021 semester as well as this summer. We were very intentional about designing it as a course on antiracism that includes a dialogue component to give students space to process their thoughts and feelings.”

Bowen is the course “Dialogue Expert Facilitator,” who is there to lead students through the dialogue experience. Abugideiri is the primary instructor.

“We are very excited to see how students respond to the design and the antiracism content,” she shared.

TV: What does this course entail?

HA: The course is a university-wide requirement that will have iterations offered through each college of the University. Ideally, students will be able to take an iteration in the college of their major or area of interest. The idea here is that the course will offer some universal content on race that will be included in all iterations of the course, regardless of college. This universal content is comprised of the foundational modules regarding race and the dialogue component. We not only wanted all Villanovans to have a shared experience as Villanova

students, but we also wanted to anchor that experience in learning how to engage in questions of identity and power, so that students are better equipped to have those difficult conversations about race and difference.

TV: Is this course now a requirement for all Villanova students?

HA: We plan to scale the URJC so that in the next few years, it will be required of all Villanovans. This will be a gradual process since requiring a university-wide course is a very complex process that involves a lot of moving parts, starting with how the course will fit in the different curricular requirements of each college.

TV: Does this course fulfill any other requirements?

HA: Currently, the course is being run as a pilot through the History Department and it fulfills the Diversity 1 and Diversity 2 requirements. It also carries Peace and Justice (P&J) and History (HIS) attributes. Future iterations may carry different attributes and fulfill other requirements.

Students who are currently enrolled in the pilot course are finding the work they are doing to be invaluable.

Senior Ivanica Skalko, Vice President of the Student Body, is a student in the URJC.

“I am really excited to take this class, because it provides a space for dialogue and learning that I have not experienced before at Villanova, or any other part of my educational experience,” Skalko said.

Tee Parris, a Senator of the Class of 2024, also shared why she enrolled in the course.

“Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work that I have previously been able to participate in has existed at a personal and theatrical level,” Parris said.

“The opportunity to work at a systematic level is what I think is most powerful about not only this pilot course, but also the sections to follow.”

Students are attending a new class on diversity, race and race on campus.

Courtesy of Olivia Pasquale

Additionally, as Abugideiri pointed out, this class requires students to have difficult but necessary discussions about racism and inequality, in broader terms and relating to life at Villanova.

“The course is exceeding my expectations in most ways, but is unsettling to me in other ways,” Parris shared.

“However, I know that is the point of this course.”

Skalko also described the thoughts and feelings of the URJC students.

“It’s scary being vulnerable and going through the process of learning new things about the institution I hold close to my heart and unlearning all the incorrect things I have been taught about

Villanova and its history thus far,” she said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to shape this class so that one day, all Villanova students can experience it.”

“I could not have asked for a better class of students,” Abugideiri said. “They are extraordinary. It has been rewarding to watch the many ‘aha’ moments that happen in class and to hear how they are wrestling with difficult content and questions. They are really leaning in so far.”

By taking this URJC and courses like it, the hope is to be more aware and educated about the issues surrounding race. For the Villanova community, the class will help in becoming what we are not yet.

The Stars Have Spoken: Your Weekly Horoscopes Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

Aries: The creative side of your personality is shining through this week. Let yourself give into the part of you that has ideas, thinks big and wants to do something you haven’t before. Let that part of yourself take over, and you will accomplish something you thought you couldn’t.

Taurus: Dreams aren’t just for the unconscious nighttime. You are harboring a dream or a desire, and it is time to take matters into your own hands to make it happen. It might be difficult or different than what you’re used to, but finding out what you want and channeling your energy into it will give you the breakthrough you have been waiting for.

Gemini: Your life has been quite the balancing act lately. Stop leaving so many loose ends untied or trying to take on more than you can chew. Your vivacious personality is one of your greatest qualities, but nothing that is spread that thin can ever really be that top-notch. Once you focus on yourself and what you need for yourself, everything else will

fall into place.

Cancer: Sometimes, you don’t need to say anything and communication happens through the unspoken.

However, this is not the time to give into that scenario. There is something going on in your life that is begging for you to take charge and to speak up.

Keeping everything locked in might be easier, but it will only lead to confusion and frustration.

Leo: Leo, your constellation’s position signals to your professional side. That means your career, or schoolwork are ever present in your mind and heart. Let it be known that the signalling from the constellation also means that now is perfect for you to throw yourself completely into your work life. It will be just what you need to really find the clarity you seek about your professional choices.

Virgo: There is a wave of exhaustion that keeps crashing over you.

While it may seem as if the universe is beating you down, and you may be questioning just why you ended up in this position, think again. The universe is working with you, and this exhaustion shall pass soon enough.

When it does, it will leave a clear path in its wake for your journey into the

future.

Libra: You know that your ability to step back and process a situation and your feelings have saved you more than once. However, don’t expect that practice to work in every situation in life. This week, there will be an energy of support behind you, enabling you to take chances your ordinarily wouldn’t. Take the leap.

Scorpio: Mystery, intrigue and adventure, these are all intensely enticing for you. Though you might feel like you have been missing a little bit of that in your life lately, know that the best forms of intrigue and mystery are the ones that take you by surprise. As long as you stay curious and engaged, the rest will fall into place in the most unlikely of places.

Sagittarius: The Sagittarius season is the time of year when people often rejoice and reconnect. Its imminent approach means that you have had a heavy awareness of time recently. Time passing and the times that may be approaching. Whether excited or apprehensive about it, know that although you may feel like time is something you never have enough of, what you do have will be pretty special.

Capricorn: Saturn’s position in the sky signals uneasiness. Whatever it is in your life, there is something that is making you feel like you have something to prove. When used in the right area, that can be a great motivator, but don’t let it seep into places it shouldn’t. If you do, you’ll harbor feelings of inferiority, which will only stop you from becoming a better version of yourself.

Aquarius: You haven’t had time to breathe lately, let alone think about anything but your to-do list.

Make sure you are still taking time to reach out to those you care about to check in on them. While it may seem like your schedule won’t permit it, you will feel rewarded and refreshed after the fact.

Pisces: Pisces, let’s get right down to it and talk about love. Love is hitting you in many different ways this week. Maybe there is some heartache over love, someone showing up for you out of love or a feeling inside about a certain someone that you just can’t get out of your head. Whether it is all of those areas or even one, you need to voice how the presence of that love makes you feel. It’s time to let the people know you care.

CULTURE

10 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Unsung Heroes of Villanova Presents: Junior Alice Ke Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

Not everyone knows her name, but junior Marketing and International Business major Alice Ke works for the good of her community that emboldens and pushes it into a better future.

Not every Villanovan gets credit when they accomplish astounding achievements or give back to the community. However, people like Ke spend every day taking confident steps into the fire of change, even if it is not necessarily in a headliner way. As the topic of The Villanovan’s first edition of Unsung Heroes, Ke shows just how capable the student body can be.

Over the course of the past year and a half, there has been an uproar of Asian hate across the nation.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice, 2020 saw a 6.1 percent increase in reported hate crimes, with a particular rise in crimes committed against Asian-Americans.

In 2021, the rates of these crimes only rose as Asians were stigmatized for their role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of letting the fire of injustice burn, Ke found ways to put it out in her own way. Ke used her artistic and savvy digital abilities to create “Stop Asian Hate” stickers of multiple designs in order to sell. The

proceeds she made went to organizations working to stop the hatred against Asian-Americans. Ke even went a step further, using chalk to draw a mural on the chalkboard wall on the first floor of Bartley Hall. The image was of an older Asian woman, with intricate designs and a message to stop Asian hate along with resources to follow.

“As loving of a community as Villanova is, we are all very fortunate to live in such a safe area where we don’t bear witness to a lot of the hate and injustice around us,” Ke said.

“That being said, I am extremely proud of our community for coming together and using our places of privilege to raise awareness for the Stop Asian Hate movement and raising over a thousand dollars to support the cause.”

Not only did Ke do her part on that front of justice, but she was also one of the people who got to work after the University’s multiple sexual assault cases that caused an uproar last year.

Ke helped to organize a statement to make to the school, bringing together other students to participate and bring their voices to the table.

When a statement was finalized, Ke and a friend made an appointment with the Provost to discuss the issues at hand and to let the students’ perspectives be heard during the strenuous

times.

“As a member of the Villanova student body, I completely understand the frustration shared amongst Villanova students towards certain issues on campus, including safety, security and sexual violence,” Ke said.

“There can definitely be a disconnect and tension between students and the Villanova administration during difficult times such as during the events that occurred last semester, so pushing for open communication and transparency surrounding such important issues is critical, and benefits all parties involved.”

As for her career, Ke spent her summer doing two internships, one of them at an organization called The Nature Conservancy.

According to the organization’s LinkedIn page, “The mission of

Alice Ke and her mural against Asian hate.

Courtesy of Alice Ke

The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.”

Ke devoted herself to the work of the non-profit, loving that she was able to do good while also achieving greater heights in her career.

“My work with The Nature Conservancy showed me that my dream career is possible,” Ke said.

“I was able to fulfill my professional interests in marketing while also pursuing my personal interests in social justice with a focus on sustainability.”

While Ke might not have had the spotlight shown on her before, like many Villanovans, she continues to pave the way for change in a surge of ferociousness, kindness and an unparalleled spirit. She might have been unsung until now, but she has always been a hero to the community.

Kanye West’s Donda: Bridging Fashion and Music Kaelin Trombly Staff Writer

Jordan Francis Staff Writer

The correlation between fashion and popular music is one of abundant and mutual creativity. Both forms of art have developed into strong mechanisms of defiance over the years as musicians and designers alike express their beliefs and individuality through their work. While powerful on their own, the two industries have found a way to merge together in recent years, becoming an influential force to reckon with. Who is the ringleader of this merge you may ask?

No one but Mr. Yeezy himself.

Kanye West has been a fashion and music mogul since his “The College Dropout” album days. West’s foray in fashion first began with Nike in 2006 when he collaborated with designer Christopher Bevans on an Air Max 180 sneaker, notable for the shoe-brands first non-athlete collaboration. Ever since the release, West’s fashion career grew into an empire and with the blink of an eye. Yeezy

was born.

As we fast forward 15 years and nine Yeezy seasons later, West has made a huge mark on the fashion world by rebirthing brands and turning streetwear into high fashion.

While Ye is known for his unpredictability, he is always consistent with his fashion motivations and aspirations.

These motivations and aspirations not being money, but the opportunity to spread his beliefs through his art.

His most recent project being his 10th studio album, “Donda.”

Despite toggling between fashion and music for quite some time, “Donda” is Ye’s most cohesive attempt at bringing the two industries together. Let’s first look at the countless fashion references dropped throughout the songs in “Donda.”

While any artist can drop designer name brands in their lyrics, Kanye does so with purpose. For example, his ninth track “Junya” (ft. Playboi Carti) is entirely dedicated to the designer Junya Watanabe, otherwise known as the protege of Comme Des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo. “Junya” is written as a symbol for West and Carti’s knowledge of the fashion industry

Kanye continuously changes the fashion game.

Courtesy of Pitchfork.com/Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Universal Music Group

and high social status.

In his track “Off the Grid” (ft.

Playboi Carti & Fivio Foreign) Kanye makes reference to his shopping spot of choice Dover Street Market. The rest of his songs drop high fashion labels that Ye has connections with such as Burberry and Givenchy.

The most powerful tie between music and fashion “Donda” created; however, was through Kanye’s three live listening parties.

Each show revolves around West’s fashion empire and is jam packed with symbolism - so let’s unpack it.

Picture this: You walk into the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, massive ceiling open, with equipment strewn all around the borders of the stadium floor. At the center of the floor is a mock-up of West’s bedroom. Acting as a reference to Vincent Van Gogh’s painting “Bedroom at Arles,” the opening was symbolic to the term “artist’s sleep during extreme times of work,” a term Ye certainly proved correct as his performance unfolded.

Working alongside West was Balenciaga’s creative director Demna Gvasalia. Gvasalia played a huge role in designing the show, as well as creating West’s new line of Donda merchandise. This merch is not to be mistaken with the Belieber t-shirt shoved to the back of your closet (sorry Justin). West’s Donda merchandise serves as an ode to high fashion, adorned with a jersey-style top, a long sleeved shirt, a cropped military jacket and a bulletproof vest. The jersey is a variant inspired by Balenciaga’s AW 21 influenced by Manchester’s United Goalkeeper jersey in 2002. The bulletproof vest perfectly fits into the silhouettes that Demna is known for at Balenciaga. These clunky foreboding symbols are part of the DNA which makes his work so capturing.

Bulletproof vests, riot gear, ‘security guard uniforms’ and ill-fitting suits are

what Demna thrives on and therefore what West presents.

The main message West tries to convey through fashion and music is anonymity. The designer who inspired West’s admiration for anonymity is Martin Margiela, the founder of the haute-couture house known as Maison. Due to Ye and Demna’s mutual love for and understanding of Margiela’s work, the two were able to create a magnanimous event for the release of the album, an event all centered around anonymity. During his career in the 1990’s, Margiela despised the new fixation of supermodels. Rather than boasting his lines with A-listers, Margiela covered the faces of his models with masks in order for his clothes to speak for themselves which is exactly what West did at his live performance.

Everyone on stage, including West, had their faces covered in masks. Rather than being a symbol for the pandemic our world is currently facing, West used his face-covering fashion as a way to show fans his appreciation for anonymity. Once known as one of the most talkative celebrities to date, Ye is explaining his newfound admiration for silence by letting the cohesion of his music and fashion speak for themselves.

I could write a novel solely based on the symbolism used in West’s live performances for Donda, but I’ll spare you. The main takeaway is this: music is fashion and fashion is music. The two industries share a symbiotic relationship like no other, and no one correlates the two better than Kanye West. Although it could be a toss up as Ye competes with other music and fashion moguls like Travis Scott, Donda may have just built the bridge between music and fashion.

The bond only strengthens from here.

And remember, I love you like Kanye loves Kanye.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

CULTURE

The Villanovan |11

What to do on a Rainy Day: Campus Edition

Sarah Hecht Staff Writer

In the wake of hurricanes Henri and Ida, finding safe and fun rainy day activities has never been more vital. So next time the West tunnel begins to look more like a lazy river, bring some sunshine to your day with the following activities.

Mendel Movie Night: Have you ever dreamed of watching your favorite throwback movies on the big screen – “Legally Blonde” or “Clueless,” anyone? With only a HDMI compatible device and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, you and your friends will have all the necessities for the perfect private screening experience. Alternatively, if you wish to truly stay in and out of the rain, create a fort in your dorm room to truly create a cozy atmosphere. You could even take things to the next level with a portable projector and white bed sheet – creating the movie theatre experience on your dorm room ceiling.

We’re Not Really Strangers: Are you a new student looking to get closer with your roommate or an upperclassman who wants to deepen

your already iron strong marriage pact relationship? If you answered yes, then “We’re Not Really Strangers” is the card game for you. The game hit the shelves in 2018 and since then has been written up in Forbes and collaborated with luxury brand, Valentino. Deemed an “existential crisis causing party game” in an Amazon review, this game will probably make you laugh or cry – but most likely cry. Even so, at the end of the night, you and your friends will be closer than ever, or maybe more than friends.

Karaoke Night: With just a quick YouTube search, you are just a few clicks away from the karaoke night of your dreams. Get your besties together and put those Taylor Swift lyric videos to good use. If you are looking to really elevate your karaoke night, choose a theme for the evening, like Y2K, Mamma Mia or Disney and order a Bluetooth Karaoke microphone so your whole hall can hear your “America’s Got Talent” worthy performances.

Charcuterie Board Competition or Dip Night: For those with a kitchen looking for a more sophisticated rainy evening in, all you have to do is get out your finest Target cutting boards and set a timer

to race your friends in creating the most Pinterest worthy charcuterie board. To make the night even sweeter, try taking the dessert route when constructing your board. If you are not a fan of charcuterie overall, invite your friends to a dip potluck to indulge in dips ranging from guacamole to chocolate fondue.

Organization Station: For those looking to use their time productively, orient and organize yourself. Clean out your inbox, finally do your laundry, color code your Google Drive folders and even, dare we say, catch up on some homework.

All these things will help bring a sense of control and peace to your day so that later in the evening you can truly enjoy any of the fantastic activities listed above.

Journal: Nothing like the aesthetic of rain against a window to put you in the perfect journaling mood. College is supposed to be the time of your life, so write down those good memories as a keepsake.

But also write about the crappy stuff: the mountain of reading, the frustrating math equation, the argument with your friend or how much you miss your family. It is important to be aware of what is making your

blue skies grey, especially during this transition back from virtual learning.

Journaling is a great way to reflect and allow yourself to simply be.

While there might not be an Ida or Henri-level storm hitting Villanova in the near future, these ideas will surely keep you entertained when any sort of precipitation touches down.

Rain calls for an empty Quad.

Courtesy of Julia Stanisci

Augustinians of Villanova: Father Steve Baker Olivia Sabalaskey Co-Culture Editor

Who are the Augustinians?

What do they do? Are they priests?

Are they professors?

Fear not, for in this new column, the Augustinians of Villanova, we hope to answer your burning questions by introducing you to some of the most beloved, inspiring and insightful members of Villanova: the Augustinians.

This week, Father Stephen Baker, O.S.A., Ed.D., or Fr. Steve, offers Villanovans a glimpse into the life of an Augustinian like himself.

“An Augustinian is a member of the religious order founded in the spirit of St. Augustine,” Fr. Steve said. “He isn’t actually our founder, but, in 1256, all followers were asked by Pope [Innocent IV] to come together to form one order for St. Augustine.”

Members of the Order are asked to come together to form and live in a community who pray together, share meals together and build a real sense of brotherhood that they try to live out. Augustinians are also very involved in various types of ministries. In other words, wherever the Catholic Church needs them, Augustinians try to respond to that call or need. For example, Augustinians like Fr. Steve have served in higher education, in parishes, as missionaries and in hospitals.

“One of the beautiful things about the Order is the diverse ministries we work for,” Fr. Steve said.

But how does one become an Augustinian? Why do they become a member of the Order of St. Augustine?

Every Augustinian has his own story of how and why he joined religious life. For example, Fr. Steve felt a strong connection with the Augustinians because they taught at

taining his prestigious achievements, Fr. Steve thought he was going to return to teach secondary education.

However, when asked if he would like to teach in higher education, he sought the chance to teach at Villanova.

“This is actually my tenth year here at Villanova,” Fr. Steve said. “I came to Villanova in 2011.

Since then, I have taught ACS [Augustine and Culture Seminar Program], and I am an academic advisor in the Office of Undergraduate Students. I also teach EDU-2202: Social Foundation Edu II because of my passion for educational and social justice issues in secondary education.”

Fr. Steve also helps with masses at the St. Thomas of Villanova Church on campus, as well as Confessions. He enjoys ​living on Campus at the Monastery in Tolentine Hall because it is in the central heart of Campus. He walks around Father Stephen Baker is a resident Villanova Augustinian. frequently to meet and interact with Courtesy of Villanova University students on his way to the other side of Tolentine Hall where he teaches Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop English at Villanova University. Fr. Prendergast Catholic High School, Steve then made his final confession his courses.

For those interested in gethis high school. During his years as a vow of poverty, chastity and ting to know an Augustinian like Fr. there, Fr. Steve felt a calling to reliobedience. Five years later, he was Steve more, he recommends that gious life, but was unsure in which ordained into the priesthood. students take time out of scheddirection to proceed.

“I was a priest in parish ule to attend mass on Sundays or

“Initially, I was thinking of ministry in Upstate New York for a during the week, stop and chat with entering the diocesan priesthood, while, then another parish north of Augustinians who frequently walk but I was torn because I wanted to Boston,” Fr. Steve said. “I went back around campus, or visit the Vocateach as well,” Fr. Steve said. “The to school to teach secondary educaAugustinians who taught me, they tion, then was called to return to be- tional Office located in the back of St. Thomas of Villanova’s Church, seemed like they were happy, that ing a parish priest in Staten Island, they enjoyed being around each New York, and, finally, I returned to since many Augustinians spend their free time there. other, the work itself, working in teaching again.”

Lastly, Fr. Steve is proud to education, teaching our youth, etc.

While he taught at these be a Villanovan.

So, the Augustinian life fit really well high schools, he felt that it was “I see the Villanovan valwith my interests in both teaching crucial to gain more experience and ues of Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas and religious life.” knowledge in the area of education. trying to be lived out daily,” Fr.

Later, Fr. Steve attended vo- So, Fr. Steve went to Saint Joseph’s Steve said.

“Although we all don’t cational retreats with the Augustini- University and got his Master’s Delive them out perfectly, we strive ans that were very influential. Once gree, M.S. in Secondary Education each and every day to live out these he decided that he would pursue a as well as his Doctor of Education values that the Augustinians hold life as an Augustinian, he pursued (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership. dear.” an undergraduate education in

After years of study and ob-

12 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

CULTURE

Book Review: Life of the Party by Olivia Gatwood

femininity and queerness being conveniently left out of stories matriculated by true crime media. While the definition of “true crime” is self-explanato *Disclaimer: The following piece ry as real crimes that have happened, discusses a book that mentions murder, sexual the cases most widely discussed are assault, and rape.* those that are unusual, horrific and

Poetry is often disregarded as absurd. Often, the crimes are not an outdated form of writing exclusive- the ones that, while horrible, have ly for the pleasure of those who wear become the norm, like women being billowing and for torture in English followed multiple blocks on their way classes. However, Olivia Gatwood’s home or queer people disappearing book, “Life of the Party,” is one of and never being heard from again. many examples of the ever-evolving

Gatwood focuses on the and heart-wrenchingly relatable nafetishization within the media of true ture of poetry. crime — how white cisgender women

Gatwood is a 29-year-old and men are described as heroes, and poet originally from Albuquerque, their athletic and academic accoNew Mexico who studied fiction at lades are the reasons for any unlawPratt Institute in New York, NY. She ful death deserving rage and grief. is known for her performance poetry, However, an overwhelming amount her writing workshops and, according of crimes against people of color and to her website, her work as a “Title IX the LGBTQ+ community are purCompliant educator in sexual assault posefully ignored, collecting dust in prevention and recovery.” the corners of society’s minds. Black

She has been an advocate transgender women and sex workers from an early age. One of the most face the most heinous of judgements, notable examples is an incident that yet receive the least support in looking happened during Gatwood’s high for them when they go missing, let school years, when she was one of alone seeking justice for their lives. several women who worked at a local Along those same lines, their assailbakery to come forward to report ants — usually white males — have the business to the U.S. Equal Emtheir accolades and families propped ployment Opportunity Commission up like shields around their names for sexual harassment. The women and reputations, defending themselves received a settlement. against the victims and their families

Gatwood is also one of two as reasons for why they deserve the hosts on a podcast titled “Say More,” benefit of the doubt and the freedom a show in which she and fellow poet to go on with their lives without conMelissa Lozada-Oliva discuss everysequences. thing from their relationships to pyra- Gatwood studies her own mid schemes to the founding mothers conceptualization of the feminine of the abolitionist movement. While identity and queerness through poetry Gatwood’s work spans many mediabout her own life — her friendships, ums, her voice and opinions remain her relationships, her childhood — in constant. She is self-assured, opinion- addition to the stories of violence ated, brilliant and so deeply unlike the against women as well as women outdated schema many think of when who perpetuate violence, like Aileen poets come to mind.

Wuornos, a woman serial killer from

Published in 2019, “Life of the late 1980s. the Party” focuses on the concept of

The difference between Bailey Quinn Staff Writer

Gatwood’s work and the work of traditional media produced within the genre of true crime is her determination to accomplish due diligence for the woefully ignored violence against people who know all too well that, as Gatwood puts it, “It is a privilege to have your body looked for.”

All of these experiences and ideas are bound together by both structured as well as free verse poetry, with lines such as, “i wanna be all the girls i’ve ever loved/mean girls, shy girls, loud girls, my girls/all of us angry on our porches” (Girl (After Ada Limón)), and, “Laughter is not about humor/it is about acknowledging a shared joy./Laughter is about bonding/Example: When I hear men laughing/I do not enter the room./I crawl home in the dark” (Mans/ Laughter).

This combination makes this book a testament to both the blessings and curses of girlhood and the coming to terms with the experiences that carve out parts of who girls are and the content they have consumed that has profoundly shaped their perceptions of the world and the mirror.

These poems hold so much significance and weight in any reader’s heart, especially in the wake of the protests about the rape of a 17-year-old girl by a member of the Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL), in addition to the new rulings in Texas concerning the criminalizing of receiving, providing and aiding in the access of abortions. The criminalization of existing as a woman (and anyone else who does not identify as a cisgender white male person), is a subject hotly debated and not well protected. Violence against women, whether by a fraternity member or by the state, is not the protection of women like so many argue. It is the massacre of their safety, their health and their rights, which are concepts

highly emphasized in all of Gatwood’s work, not just her writing.

It is no surprise that Gatwood has had many fraternity members walk out of her public readings of her work. But, it is also not surprising how many people feel heard and seen by her poetry. Her opinions and knowledge about exploring her own identity, her obsession with true crime and her expertise on growing up as a woman come together to create a one of a kind experience that haunts all her readers in a way which teenage girls are especially familiar with. Many teenage girls can find great comfort in knowing that they are not alone in this mess, not in the least.

While you wait for Gatwood’s forthcoming novel, “Whoever You Are, Honey,” enjoy the haunting lines of poems like “Mans/laughter,” “Ode To My Favorite Murder,” “Aileen Wuornos Takes A Lover Home” and “All Of The Missing Girls Are Hanging Out Without Us.”

This week’s Book of the Week.

Courtesy of Amazon

Villanovans Attend Made in America Festival 2021 Julia Stanisci Co-Culture Editor

Villanovans are back, and so are music festivals. Philadelphia’s annual Made In America music festival returned to the city after a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many Villanova students attended this Labor Day Weekend.

The music festival was founded in 2012 by acclaimed musician Jay-Z as a way to bring together music and culture. It takes place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with the main “Rocky Stage” directly in front of the famous Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The festival takes place over two days from about 2:00-11:30 PM, with various musicians on three different stages. This year’s Day 1 artists included Latto, Coi Leray, Duke Deuce and Baby Keem, among others. The main attractions on the first day were Megan Thee Stallion, A$AP Ferg, Kehlani, Young Thug and headliner Lil Baby.

Attendees were thrilled when Philadelphia’s own Meek Mill made a surprise appearance and gave an exhilarating performance of top hit “Dreams and Nightmares,” much to

the crowd’s approval. The weather was perfectly sunny and 75 degrees, and it was a beautiful day to be back in Philly enjoying music and culture with friends.

Junior Emmet Scanlon attended the first day of the festival with friends.

“It was amazing to go to a concert again and experience some incredible outdoor fun and music with some great people,” Scanlon said.

On Day 2, performers included 42 Dugg, Lil Durk, Tinashe and Moneybagg Yo. Crowd favor-

website reads as follows:

“The Made In America festival will implement all CDC and local public health mandates and guidelines. In accordance with current guidance, proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or printed proof of full COVID-19 vaccination must be presented at entry.

The negative COVID-19 test result must be obtained within 48 hours of attending the Made In America festival. In addition, as mandated by the City Of Philadelphia, all attendees on festival grounds will be required to wear masks.”

Attendees were required to present their vaccination status, with proof of vaccinations options such as the “CLEAR Health Pass” app, which serves as a virtual vaccination passport. However, despite these many safety guidelines, festival-goers reported that mask-wearing was loosely enforced at best, with a majority of the crowd going sansmask. We will see if the city and its surrounding areas experience a large spike in COVID-19 cases as a result of this.

Overall, Made in America 2021 was an amazing celebration of music, culture and togetherness, Villanova juniors enjoy the festival. as well as a great way for Villanova Courtesy of Mike Tarallo students to kick off the fall semester.

ites were Doja Cat, Lloyd Banks, Roddy Ricch, Bobby Shmurda and, of course, headliner Justin Bieber.

Despite Sunday’s light rain, attendee’s spirits were not soaked.

To keep festival-goers energized, the site was lined with Food Trucks reminiscent of Villanova’s “Food Truck Fridays.” The food vendors offered a wide variety of options to eat, from Jamaican plates, to tacos, to traditional Philly foods and everything in between.

The Festival instituted a number of COVID-19 safety guidelines. The extensive statement on its

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The Villanovan | 13

SPORTS

Movie Review: “Shang-Chi’s” Return to Theaters Matthew Gaetano Staff Writer

Over the past year, there has been no shortage of Marvel content, with series like “WandaVision,” “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier,” “Loki” and the currently running “What If ?” giving fans something to watch practically every week.

When considered in addition to the already-released “Black Widow,’’ as well as the surplus of content yet to come, Marvel is increasingly becoming a contributor to the ever growing problem of superhero-fatigue. However, regardless of one’s stance on the current saturation of superhero films, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” is a special one that marks the long awaited return of the MCU to theaters. Specifically, the movie, which is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, offers viewers their first chance to see a widely released Marvel film since “Spider-Man: Far

from Home” in 2019. Though this is the case, the question remains, is the movie worth going to theaters to see?

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” or just “ShangChi” for short, is the story of the titular Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) facing off against the menace of the terrorist organization Ten Rings. Without delving too far into spoiler-territory, Shang-Chi gets caught up in a fair amount of family drama along the way and must ultimately defend Ta Lo, the mystical birth place of his mother (Fala Chen) from The Ten Rings and its leader, Wenwu (Tony Leung). Helping Shang-Chi along the way is his sister, Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) and his best friend (as well as the movie’s comedic relief), Katy (Awkwafina). The film also sees the return of some familiar faces from the MCU’s past and, as a story overall, the movie is very much in line with the past Marvel heroes’ origin films.

Still, while “Shang-Chi” is certainly a product of the tried-andtrue Marvel formula, it does have a few areas of unique variation. Among

these differences are most notably an emphasis on hand-to-hand action sequences and a more comedic tone brought on by the quippy jokes that Marvel has become known for. Also contributing to this lighter comedic style are Liu and Awkwafina’s portrayals of Shang-Chi and Katy, who portray their respective characters with eccentric but fairly believable millenial/Gen-Z charm.

Longtime fans of the MCU are sure to have an enjoyable time watching the debut of Marvel’s latest superhero. Throughout its duration, the film connects subtly, and sometimes less so, to past Marvel films, and retcons one of the MCU’s most controversial creative decisions. This, coupled with the two post-credit scenes boasted by the film, should be enough to make the movie worthwhile for any dedicated MCU viewer. To newcomers, the film, being an origin story set at the beginning of a new era for the MCU, is a great jumping on point with a lot to keep audiences entertained. The only audience that is less than likely to enjoy the film consists

of those who have become embittered by the MCU and film buffs who are looking for a stroke of artistic genius.

You will not find it here. “ShangChi” is a film that is best enjoyed with popcorn in hand and surrounded by the company of friends. So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get back to the movie theater, “Shang-Chi” is the movie for you.

“Shang-Chi” is in theaters now.

Courtesy of Comicbook

A Craze You Can Bet On: Students and Sports Gambling Elena Rouse Co-Culture Editor

When the students on campus start biting their nails and habitually checking their phone notifications to check the scores of sports games, it can only mean one thing. While some may do it for the love of a particular team, more and more students, along with the rest of the country, have gotten swept up in the business of sports betting.

It is safe to say that the stakes for many college sports spectators have risen as more have started to put their own money on professional sports games. The world of professional sports in connection to its fans has never been so interactive.

The online sports betting craze has swept the nation. The addictive highs of guessing a team’s success, its accessibility and competitive connotations gives sports betting an edge. In fact, in recent years, sports betting has gotten so popular that participants have expanded their wagering, putting money on more than just the National Football League.

“It definitely expands beyond just football,” an anonymous Villanovan said. “Depending on what site you use, someone can bet on anything from who will score first in a baseball game to the winner of a Russian volleyball game halfway across the world.

The possibilities of things to bet on are almost limitless in this day and

age.”

Sports betting has become so ingrained in student culture that many groups have student bookies to manage and deal out pay for bets made on games. Many college students, Villanovans included, take to online platforms to participate in this cultural phenomenon.

“DraftKings is probably the most popular sports betting app nationwide,” one student said. “But over the last year or so, Barstool has partnered with Penn National and the Barstool Sportsbook has become very popular in states where it is available.”

Penn National is an in-person and online sports betting platform that Barstool sold a 36% stake to last year, according to The Wall Street Journal. Dave Portnoy, the founder of the popular sports and media company Barstool Sports, is the face of this sports gambling franchise, and can often be seen on his social media platforms promoting sports betting. His franchise is very popular with college aged students.

The legality of sports betting remains dependent on the decision of the state, as of New Jersey’s Supreme Court victory in May 2018. While Pennsylvania has legalized sports betting both in person and online, in states like Texas, sports betting is still illegal unless one participates in another state’s online platform.

When asked why he participates in sports betting, another anonymous Villanovan explained his

thought process.

“From a young age, I have always been invested in sports, whether that be playing on the field or being an active fan,” the student said. “Now as I’ve gotten older, I have wanted to take my years of experience watching sports and being within the lines to now test my luck and try to make some profitable gains.”

However, the gains of which he spoke are not always the outcome.

“Yes, there are times when my friends win large amounts of money on huge upset picks or multiple team parlays,” one Villanovan said. “However, I have also seen them lose large amounts of money doing the exact same thing.”

With such uncertainty regarding the outcome of all these sports events, plus the often limited budgets of college students, one wonders

about the appeal of online sports betting for these Villanovans and other college students. However, as one Villanovan explains, the experience is unparalleled.

“The draw of sports betting comes down to a person thinking that they know better than the rest of America,” the student said. “My dad always says that the people who make the point spread in this country should run it, because they somehow always end up being right.”

However, even this avid participant understood his limits.

“Sometimes your own knowledge can be enough to win some money but in most cases, the odds are never in your favor.”

Even so, this new hobby continues to steal the attention, excitement, time and, of course, the money of people across the country.

Online sports betting has become a craze among Villanova students.

Courtesy of Julia Stanisci

14 | The Villanovan

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

SPORTS

SPORTS

Men’s Soccer Splits Weekend Games, Takes Down Yale Zac Tipton Staff Writer Tyler Moore Staff Writer

Villanova soccer competed twice over the Labor Day holiday weekend, dropping a 1-0 decision on a late penalty kick to Albany on Friday, before defeating Yale 2-1 Monday afternoon. Monday’s win was momentous for the Wildcats, as Yale is the reigning Ivy League champion, appeared in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, and received votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25.

Friday’s match was one of frustration for the Wildcats, who failed to score despite dominating possession for much of the match. Albany failed to record a shot in the first half and only mustered eight on the day, yet senior midfielder Haflidi Sigurdarson converted a penalty with seventeen minutes remaining, and it proved to be enough for a 1-0 win for Albany.

Villanova had all the chances in the first half, outshooting the Great Danes 9-0, and had two great chances to score. Junior forward Lyam MacKinnon hit the crossbar with a shot in the 20th minute, and later in the half junior midfielder Viktor Benediktsson headed past Albany goalkeeper Carlos Tofern, only for the shot to be cleared off the line. Tofern made six saves on the day.

The second half was more even, as the Wildcats took 10 shots to Albany’s eight. However, one mistake made all the difference, as junior midfielder Josh Belluz fouled an Albany player during a scramble after a corner kick. Sigurdarson converted the penalty, and the Great Danes held on to hand the Wildcats their first loss of the season.

The Wildcats took 19 shots on the day, with nine corners. All five shots taken by the ‘Cats after conceding failed to test Tofern.

On Monday, Villanova took on Yale, winning 2-1 in front of a packed Higgins Soccer Complex.

Fans lined the outside of the entrance waiting to get in well before the highly anticipated matchup began, as well as into the first few minutes of the game.

Not a single seat remained in the stands, and fans crowded along the fences outside the field as well.

The Wildcats pressured the Yale defense right away. In the 18th minute, freshman forward Balthi Saunders pounced on a Bulldog mistake, finding MacKinnon 40 yards from goal. Despite the distance, MacKinnon saw Yale keeper Elian Haddock off his line and fired over the junior, giving the Wildcats the early lead.

However, the lead did not last long. A foul was called on redshirt senior keeper Carson Williams in the 23rd minute, setting up a penalty kick for Yale. Williams dove the right way but junior forward Paolo Carroll’s

shot was too strong, knotting the score at 1-1.

Both teams turned up the intensity in the second half, resulting in four fouls in the first ten minutes after the break. Yale kept the ball for the opening of the second half, but Villanova capitalized on a Yale mistake and junior midfielder Marcus Brenes forced Haddock into a tough save on a breakaway. Yale regained momentum after an offsides call on the Wildcats and a yellow card on Villanova head coach Tom Carlin, and two shots from the Bulldogs narrowly missed the goal.

By the 65th minute, the Wildcats grabbed control of the game. Yale junior center back Jeremy Haddock and sophomore midfielder Kai Moos received yellow cards, and the Wildcats began peppering the Yale goal. Villanova quickly created two chances, both ending in shots by MacKinnon, with the second forcing Haddock into a save.

In the 72nd minute, the Wildcats found the breakthrough.

Junior midfielder Gray Ricca found MacKinnon near the Yale box, who threaded the needle between numerous Yale defenders to find freshman forward Balthi Saunders. Saunders wrapped his right foot around the ball and inside the far post for his first collegiate goal, giving Villanova a 2-1 lead with 19 minutes to go.

However, the reigning Ivy League champs would not go away.

Yale controlled possession for the rest of the game, but tired legs for the Bulldogs meant that Villanova had several chances to put the game away on counters. MacKinnon and sophomore forward Akinjide Awujo forced Haddock into saves, but it was Yale who had the final chance with a cross from freshman left back TJ Presthus.

However, Williams was able to claim the cross, securing the win for the ‘Cats.

Next for Villanova is its first road game of the year, making the short trip to north Philadelphia to take on Temple. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

Junior Marcus Brenes takes a kick in the open field.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Women’s Soccer Beats Cornell, Improves to 5-0 ball out of the air before any Cornell players had a chance to get a foot on it. McClay was coming off an excellent week, with two wins, one shutout and a .900 save per Villanova’s women’s soccer centage, earning her a spot on the team took home its fifth straight Big East’s Weekly Honor Roll. win to start the season Sunday,

The game continued to be shutting out the Cornell Big Red, a back-and-forth possession battle 2-0, at home. It’s the first time the until Cornell broke away on the ‘Cats have started the season 5-0 since 2008. The two teams were on counter near the 30th minute, but freshman Maddie Fried was able very different runs coming into the to get a foot in just as a Big Red matchup, with the Big Red havforward pulled back to take a shot. ing dropped their last fixture, 5-2 against Niagara University to fall to Shortly after, freshman Susanna Soderman was able to get a shot on 1-1-1 on the year. goal after a give-and-go, but Cornell

The Wildcats started the game by dominating possession, cre- keeper Erica Fox was able to make a gutsy save against the shot that was ating plentiful chances. A free-kick on frame. was given to the ‘Cats in the fifth

A handball was called in minute after a foul about 10 feet outside the 18-yard box. Sophomore the 31st minute in the 18-yard box, which resulted in a penalty kick midfielder Emma Weaver played a rolling ball into the danger area that for Villanova. Senior midfielder senior Chloe O’Neill was able to get Brice McInroy calmly put it away to her right, sending the keeper the a foot on, directing the ball around wrong way. The clinical finish put the keeper and into the back of the the Wildcats up 2-0 and marked the net for her sixth goal of the season. team’s 14th goal of the season.

It was a fitting way for O’Neill to The Wildcats put on a comstart the game, after she was named manding performance in the first as the Big East Player of the Week half. Total shots at half-time were last week. The goal places O’Neill 10-1 in favor of the ‘Cats, and they as one of the top six goal scorers in the nation and second in the confer- had six more shots on goal than the Big Red through 45 minutes of play. ence.

The ‘Cats started the sec After the opening score, ond half with two quick dangerous Villanova continued to control the ball, but Cornell had its first chance chances, but neither could find the back of the net. Cornell was able in the 13th minute as the Big Red to respond quickly with two quick found itself with a corner. Senior chances of its own, but McClay keeper Megan McClay was able to was able to stop both a corner and smother the chance, snagging the Owen Hewitt Staff Writer

a free-kick before either had the chance to ruin the ‘Cats clean sheet.

Cornell came storming forward in the 60th minute, but a huge tackle from junior defender Molly Shannon just outside the 18-yard box was able to wipe out the Big Red attack. The run of play started to shift toward Cornell’s favor, as the Big Red continued to create chances. McClay was forced into action for just the third time in the 71st minute, making a save on a Big Red shot from the top of the penalty arc.

She continued to control the game from the keeper spot, extinguishing any chances the Big Red had.

The ‘Cats finally got back on the front foot with 15 minutes left in the game, as they created a dangerous chance for Soderman,

whose shot off of a service from a corner was ultimately blocked by a Cornell defender in the box. The Wildcats generated a couple more chances, but Fox was confident in between the sticks, tallying her sixth and seventh saves of the afternoon.

Cornell was able to fend off another ‘Cats barrage in the 80th minute, as the defense held strong against multiple chances, including a dangerous corner from O’Neill. McClay made her fourth save of the afternoon in the 83rd minute, but from then on it was all Wildcats, as they held possession and closed out the 2-0 win.

The Wildcats are scheduled to take on their biggest challenge yet as they travel to Virginia Tech for a non-conference matchup on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m.

Senior goalie Megan McClay has had a successful start to the season.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

How to Beat the Bison: Bucknell Preview Anders Pryor Staff Writer

Sep. 1 - Sep. 7

Wednesday, September 1 None Thursday, September 2 None Friday, September 3 Men’s Soccer vs Albany 0-1 L Field Hockey vs Bucknell 3-1 W Volleyball vs Rider (GCU Invitational) 3-0 W Saturday, September 4 Golf @ Alex Lagowitz Memorial T8/15 Football @ Lehigh 47-3 W Volleyball vs Western Carolina (GCU Invitational) 0-3 L Sunday, September 5 Golf @ Alex Lagowitz Memorial 7/15 Field Hockey vs VCU 1-7 L Women’s Soccer vs Cornell 2-0 W Volleyball @ Grand Canyon (GCU Invitational) 0-3 L Monday, September 6 Men’s Soccer vs Yale 2-1 W Tuesday, September 7 None

The Villanovan | 15

SPORTS

Villanova’s football team will make its home debut at Villanova Stadium Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Bucknell Bison. Villanova entered the season ranked 16th in FCS standings, while the Bison are unranked. Villanova enters the game 1-0, after ripping through Lehigh, 47-3. Bucknell opened the season with a 21-0 loss to Sacred Heart.

The home opener will feature 16 seniors, some of whom will be stepping foot onto the field for the sixth season. The pandemic gave all collegiate athletes an extra year of eligibility, which allowed many upperclassmen to extend their college careers and opened the doors for sophomores and juniors to do the same. Notable players in this group include offensive lineman Michael Corbi, wide receiver Dez Boykin and star running back Justin Covington.

There are two main defensive trends seen in Bucknell’s formations, particularly with its linebacker group. The team likes to use its LB core to pressure the quarterback and stop the run - it does this in two ways. One, it will run a concept that is often called a “mug” look, where it will put either one or two linebackers into the A-Gap of the line of scrimmage, which can then turn into a straight blitz or a fake-off. Two, it will utilize the pairing of a pass rusher and a linebacker to complete what’s often called a “shot”

attack: the mike-linebacker will step away from the line once the ball is snapped, and have either the outside linebacker or Edge rush directly to one side horizontally rather than straight at their opponent. The middle linebacker will cross behind and over to the other side of where the outside linebacker was now that the middle linebacker has drawn space, allowing the player to rush the gap and get after the quarterback.

Offensively, the Bison utilize a balanced rushing-passing attack plan. Their rushing attack will be led by running back Jared Cooper, who led the team in rushing last season with 121 yards in four games. The passing attack will likely be headlined by quarterback Tarrin Ealre, who appeared in two games last season and threw for 209 yards and two touchdowns, with a 69% completion rate. The 6’3”, 195-pound senior will be

going into this season with expectations to expand on the small yet bright flash he showed last year in his limited time on the field.

In order for Villanova to dominate Bucknell like it did Lehigh, it should utilize short and fast hot routes to escape any kind of pressure the Bison linebacker group may bring. Short-end routes like slant-groups, wheels, arrow routes or mesh concepts should be able to provide receivers with open space when the Bison blitz, or spread out the corners when they decide to play close. This may require some sacrifice from Justin Covington on the numbers end, as putting the RB group in some short receiving sets could be a helpful tool in the red zone. The only other alternative for Mark Ferrante is to hope that Justin Covington’s raw level of talent would be able to outlast the Bucknell defense, and carry the ‘Cats to a victory.

Graduate running back Justin Covington ran for two touchdowns against Lehigh.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Volleyball Drops Two of Three at GCU Invitational Zac Tipton Staff Writer

Coming off a couple of wins at home, Villanova traveled to Phoenix for the Grand Canyon Invitational with a bit of momentum. The team continued that momentum in the first, cruising past Rider for the second time in three games, but stumbled the rest of the way, falling to both Western Carolina and Grand Canyon in straight sets to fall to 3-3 on the season.

Villanova started its furthest road trip of the year with a familiar face, facing a team it had played in Pennsylvania just last weekend. The Wildcats beat Rider again, this time in straight sets. Villanova took big leads in the first two sets thanks to big starts from senior outside hitter Clare Delaplane and sophomore middle blocker Maddie Barber, who had a

combined five kills. Villanova never let up, and even though the last set was a back and forth affair, Villanova pulled away and was able to finish off the game, thanks to great kills from sophomore outside hitter Riley Homer, who led Villanova with 12 kills in the game. Junior setter Belle Morgan had 35 assists and graduate libero Averi Salvador had 17 digs. This win brought the ‘Cats’ record to 3-1, but the weekend was downhill from there.

Saturday, Villanova looked to continue its win streak against Western Carolina. Villanova started the first set close, before falling apart and allowing Western Carolina to have .306 hitting percentage in the first. The Catamounts cruised to a comfortable 25-17 win in the first set, and never looked back. Western Carolina continued their dominance in the second set, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and never wavering, winning the second set, 25-15. However, Homer

Setter Andrea Campos serves earlier this season.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Middle blocker Kiera Booth sparked a brief comeback against Western Carolina.

Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

had a team-high eight kills through the first two sets. The third set was a thriller, and while Western Carolina led 17-12, the Wildcats were able to bring it all the way back, thanks to three kills in a row from Kiera Booth.

With the game score at 23-22, the Catamounts finished it off, winning the set 25-22, but the Wildcats had 18 kills in that set. Homer finished with 13 kills, Morgan finished with 22 assists, Salvador had 17 assists and Delaplane had 12 digs. Villanova’s record dropped to 3-2.

In the final match on Sunday.

Villanova faced the ‘Lopes of Grand Canyon University. On GCU’s home court, Villanova was able to put a scare into the crowd by taking lead after lead and eventually owning a 2421 advantage, one point away from an incredible set win thanks to eight kills from senior outside hitter Sanaä

Barnes and Booth. However, GCU ended up winning the first set, 26-24.

The second set was GCU’s all the way, with the team going on a 6-0 run early and running away with the second set, 25-12. The final set, just like last weekend’s Stanford game, was a back and forth battle, with Villanova, thanks to kills from Homer, taking a 21-20 lead. But errors cost Villanova, and GCU won the last set, 25-23.

Homer had 10 kills, Morgan had 34 assists and Salvador had 12 digs. This was Villanova’s third three set loss this season, dropping the Wildcats to an even 3-3 record.

Villanova now looks to bounce back next weekend at the Northeastern tournament in Boston, facing 2-4 Northeastern on Friday.

They will then face the 3-2 Bryant Bulldogs Saturday afternoon, finishing with 1-2 Harvard Saturday night.

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