The Villanovan | Volume 117, Issue 3: September 25, 2024

Former VP Pence Visits Villanova

Isabella Balian Political Columnist

Carlin Political Columnist

On the day after National Constitution Day, Villanova’s Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy and the Charles Widger School of Law hosted former Vice President, Mike Pence, for an address on faith and public life. Dean and professor at Villanova’s School of Law Mark Alexander began by delivering an opening word. He wanted Villanova’s values of veritas, caritas and unitas to guide the conversation. Alexander encouraged students to embrace their passions whether they agreed or disagreed but to approach the conversation with a commitment to truth, unity and love.

Law professor and Director of the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Michael Moreland, then introduced Pence. Moreland gave a brief description of Pence’s background as a Governor, Congressman and Vice President of the United States.

Pence began by commending undergraduate and graduate students by acknowledging Villanova as an “extraordinary university.” He then discussed his move back to Indiana after his time as the Vice President and his current life with his wife, children and grandchildren. Pence spoke about the meaning of the Republican Party and the need to restore the Party’s roots in national defense, limited government and human life.

Moreland asked Pence about the importance of the United States Constitution.

“It is inarguably the greatest national charter of

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Villanova Student Reports Rape in the Commons

p. 3

Classes Should be Cancelled on Election Day p. 10

Students Respond to Rising Concerns Over Sexual Assault at Villanova

Hannah Sweeney Co-Editor-in-Chief

* Content warning: mention of sexual assault

All students who spoke in this article have chosen to remain anonymous, due to the sensitive nature of the subject.

In light of the recent sexual assault lawsuit filed against Villanova University and the reported rape on campus, conversations surrounding sexual misconduct have intensified among students.

“I can’t even count,”a senior female student said when asked how many of her friends had experienced sexual assault.

“I feel like almost every girl I’m friends with has a story. And on top of that, some people have similar stories about the same person, but they [the perpetrators] still go by unscathed.”

“I know several people who have experienced sexual assault,” another senior shared. “It completely uproots one’s life. I think they move through the world with so much fear and hurt, and it’s very hard for them to trust people ever again.”

A third student agreed.

“It’s not even shocking anymore,” she said. “It’s just so common.”

According to the

Villanova Community Climate Survey, recorded in 2021, about 11.9% of undergraduate respondents reported experiencing non-consensual or unwanted sexual conduct since being at Villanova. This number is equal to about one in every eight people. While this survey is particular to Villanova students, the issue of sexual assault is pervasive at universities nationwide. To help combat sexual assault, universities, including Villanova, enforce a strict Title IX policy. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, which includes sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Yet, according to Villanova’s Title IX Coordinator Ryan Rost, a sexual misconduct policy is only one of many measures that universities should take to protect their students.

“These regulations are the floor, not the ceiling,” Rost said.

Villanova communication professor Dr. Amy Way, who teaches a course on sexual violence, echoed this point, explaining that a university has a responsibility beyond providing the training that they are legally required to do.

“[This involves] being realistic about what their campus culture is like, which includes off

Continued on p. 3

‘Nova Nation: Hoops Mania 2024 Recap

Finn Courtney Co-News Editor

After the mostly-negative reception to last year’s musical performer, Rick Ross, this year’s Hoops Mania (colloquially known as “Hoops” on Villanova’s campus) had many rumors and hope surrounding the identity of the performer.

This year, Grammy-nominated rapper Gunna took the stage. After much speculation over him being the surprise guest, there were

2024 Fall Preview Day Welcomes Prospective Villanovans p. 5

SOLO NOVA: I Will Speak for Myself p. 12

many more positive feelings than what was felt last year.

Gunna’s closing performance at Hoops capped an overall better celebration

of the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball campaign compared to last year’s, as well, and the event felt much less rushed than 2023’s edition,

Villanovans Attend Panel with Senators Casey and Warren p. 6

Philadelphia Concerts: The Inside Scoop p. 15

which was attributed by some students to a performance Ross had in Miami the same night. Hoops celebrated both teams with walkouts, dances, three-point and brand-new skills competitions and the annual blue-and-white scrimmage, where after a year-long absence, streamers returned and covered the floor of the Finn after the first basket was scored. The gem of Hoops, however, always comes with the surprise musical performance, which in Villanova’s

Continued on p. 4

p. 7

Hockey Claims

Conversations surrounding sexual assault have intensified around campus in wake of the recent incidents. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Former Vice President Mike Pence Visits Villanova

Field

Two Wins Over Weekend p. 17

Gunna at Hoops Mania: A Mixed Review p. 9

Campbell McKinnon: Volleyball’s Rookie Star p. 19

Students celebrate Hoops Mania with the annual 3-point contest Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Isabella

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

HARASSMENT-STRIKE, KICK, SHOVE

Occurred: 3/27/2024 Reported: 9/19/2024

FALVEY LIBRARY

The Title IX Coordinator reported that they had received a formal complaint from a student alleging that the student had been subjected to unwanted physical contact by an employee.

THEFT

Occurred and Reported: 9/19/2024

CONNELLY CENTER

A staff member reported the theft of her Yeti tumbler valued at $35.00. The item was recovered, and the responsible party identified.

RAPE

Occurred: 9/13/2024 Reported: 9/20/2024

HOVNANIAN HALL

A female student reported being raped in a campus residence hall by a known non-affiliated male.

CORRECTIONS

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

Occurred and Reported: 9/20/2024

FINNERAN PAVILLION

A male resident-student, under the age of 21, was evaluated by VEMS for alcohol intoxication and released to a sober friend.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

Occurred and Reported: 9/21/2024

SOUTH CAMPUS GROUNDS

A male non-affiliate, under the age of 21, was observed under the influence of alcohol in public. The male was evaluated by Public Safety and released.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE

Occurred and Reported: 9/21/2024

DOBBIN HALL

A female resident student, under the age of 21, was observed intoxicated in their residence hall dorm room. The student was evaluated by Public Safety and released.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

Occurred and Reported: 9/21/2024

GOOD COUNSEL HALL

A female resident-student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and released.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

Occurred and Reported: 9/21/2024

CAUGHLIN HALL

A female resident student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication by VEMS and transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital.

LIQUOR UNDERAGE, PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS

Occurred and Reported: 9/21/2024

SULLIVAN HALL

A female resident-student, under the age of 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and released.

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.

Villanova Students Turn to Philly for Nightlife

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

*Due to sensitive topics and underage drinking, all students quoted have requested to stay anonymous.

“Villa-no-fun” is a connotation that has been associated with Villanova University’s nightlife and social scene for decades. With the lack of Greek life housing and the accessibility to parties hosted by students, it is without a surprise that students would turn to College Hall for parties, referred more commonly to as “Courts.”

However, with the nearby bars being strictly for students over 21 and Courts parties continuously being shut down early due to noise complaints, underage consumption and high tensions between students and the owners and landlords of College Hall, students are being displaced at a large rate when looking for a place to spend their Friday and Saturday nights.

“A lot of us feel like we need to go into Philly on the weekends in order for there to be something to do,” a junior male student said. “As an underage guy not in a fraternity, my options are really limited on what I can do on and near campus.”

Within recent months, an increased number of Villanova students has been trekking to Philadelphia to spend nights out. Whether it is students going to fraternity parties at other local universities such as Haverford or the University of Pennsylvania, or going to bars with more lenient acceptance tendencies, it raises the question: is this the best and most effective way for Villanova students to be able to spend their free time? And what concerns are

brought upon those making this trip into the city?

Within the recent months, the concerns of safety, cost and underage consumption has been at an all time high, both in Philly and here on Villanova’s campus.

Earlier this month, there was an instance of gun violence near a highly populated bar: JJ’s Bootleggers, a frequented location by many Villanovans.

“My friends and I went to JJs [the night of the shooting],” a sophomore female student said. “We were not there for that long and did not fully understand what had happened until we got home, which I am grateful for. I do not really feel safe. Especially at night, Philly can be scary and unpredictable. I also do not like the fact that I need to use a fake [ID], since it is not always a guarantee that everyone in our group will get in. If that happens, the whole group leaves. Which is good because the whole group sticks together, but it also causes the night to end shorter than anticipated.”

After multiple attempts to contact JJ Bootleggers, they have declined to comment.

While safety is one of the highest concerns from those who travel into the city on the weekends, they also recognize that it is not the most economical decision as well.

“One of my least favorite parts about going into Philly on the weekends is the cost,” the junior male said. “The Ubers, the drinks, the cost of a fake ID itself, it adds up. As a college student, I want to be able to have fun, but then I end up spending anywhere between $50 to $100 every time we go.”

The costs associated with going out tends to sway people away from going. On one hand,

this prevents safety issues regarding Villanova students who may be going out, when they then decide to stay in. However, this also can cause more students to drink on campus or attempt to go out closer to campus. By deciding to turn to on-campus activities, they risk the chance of being confronted by an RA or Public Safety, and by attempting to get into a bar such as Kelly’s, they risk the police being called on them, and the chance of being permanently banned from the bar.

“I wish Villanova had better going out options,” the sophomore female said. “I think Courts was a perfect medium because it was a short drive, but still far enough away to be a little removed from campus. I also liked that I was surrounded only by Villanova students.”

“I like to go to parties at other local universities,” a male sophomore student said. “Going to schools such as Haverford or UPenn, where the administration understands that college students want to be able to have a good time, makes me feel more safe than drinking on Villanova’s campus. It is truly remarkable how different a school five minutes down the road’s culture regarding drinking can be.”

As Villanova students call for a change in the going out culture around campus, more and more students will continue to go into the city.

The concerns of cost and safety will continue to be in the minds of Villanova students who try to decide if going out is truly worth the risks that come along with a night out in Philly.

Many students have been trekking to Philly to spend their nights out. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

Students Respond to Sexual Assault Concerns

Hannah Sweeney Co-Editor-in-Chief

Continued from p. 1

and on-campus parties, the penalties around drinking in dorms or on-campus [and] knowing what the social scene is like,” Way said.

Statistically, a large part of sexual assaults involve people that are under the influence.

“[However,] alcohol is never, ever to blame,” Rost said. “Nor is the survivor. And [alcohol] is also not an excuse.”

Yet, given the increased risk of sexual assault when substances are involved, several female students expressed their increased caution when going out to parties or bars.

“I definitely don’t feel very safe in Philly or Manayunk, even with friends, so I avoid going out there,” a senior shared. “I think as I have gotten to know more people the campus feels safer, but freshman year I really had a lot more fear and anxiety, just because you don’t know who’s bad news or who’s not.”

Despite the widespread worry of sexual assault, many Villanova students still feel that there is a lack of discussion on campus surrounding the issue.

“I don’t think it is discussed

enough,” a senior student said. “Sometimes I do feel like Villanova turns a blind eye to assault, and there isn’t much follow up about the topic after orientation.”

Before coming to Villanova, students are required to complete a series of modules aimed at educating students on the dangers of sexual violence. These modules address how to prevent assault, resources for victims and bystander intervention training.

After this training, education and prevention resources are available around campus, but they are rarely mandated.

“As a male student on campus my friends usually do not bring up sexual assault at all. But once we get these notifications from the school, people get more on high alert,” a Villanova sophomore said.

Rost agreed, adding that there needs to be more continuous discussion.

“When there are things that are publicized, the conversations bubble up, and then they fizzle out,” she said.

According to student experiences, friends, peers and community members play an important role in sexual assault prevention.

“My friends and I have rules about sticking together, texting each other and sharing locations,” a freshman said.

A senior described her experience being surrounded by friends when at places where alcohol is involved.

“I think at local bars in Villanova I feel safe,” a senior student said. “And I only really feel safe at Greek life events when I am surrounded by friends looking out for me.”

“My friends that are girls tell me stories about their own experiences alone in a strange Uber or a male student walking into the girls restroom,” a male student said.

“It reminds me that I have to do my part in helping my friends whether it means leaving in an Uber with them or getting a strange man away from them because I never want them to feel uncomfortable.”

Rost further emphasized that a person’s peers and com -

munity are equally crucial in how they respond to such incidents.

“How a person responds to them can really set a path for their course of healing,” she said.

“We are all responsible for this culture,” Way added.

To report a sexual assault or an act of sexual misconduct, call Public Safety at 610-5195800; the Title IX Coordinator Ms. Ryan Rost at 610-519-8805; or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.

For more information on support resources, call the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) at 484-343-6028. For more information on Villanova’s sexual misconduct prevention and education efforts, please visit: https://www1.villanova.edu/university/sexual-misconduct/education.html. For the National Sexual Assault Hotline, please call 1-800656-4673.

Villanova Student Reports Rape in the Commons

Emma Cahill Co-Editor-in-Chief

Content warning: mentions of sexual assault.

On Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:08 p.m., Villanova University’s Department of Public Safety shared an email with the student body disclosing a safety alert of a rape reported in the Commons.

According to the email, the Department of Public received a report of rape by a female resident on the afternoon of Sept. 20. As per the report, the female resident stated that she was raped by a male Uber driver in the Commons residence hall complex during the overnight hours of Sept. 13 to 14.

As explained by the email, Villanova University Police have since identified and contacted the Uber Driver. The driver has been

banned from University property as the investigation commences. The incident has additionally been reported to Uber.

In a statement to 6ABC’s Action News , an Uber spokesperson commented, ‘”Sexual assault is a devastating crime that has no place in our society. We are appalled by what’s been described, and banned the driver as soon as this was reported to us. We will assist law enforcement however we can.”

In the email to the Villanova community, Public Safety provided safety tips, links to available support resources on campus and reporting options. The message emphasized the University’s prevention and education initiatives provided.

The University has declined to provide a statement on the incident other than what was

shared in the email from Public Safety.

This report follows the recent news of a lawsuit filed against Villanova University regarding a sexual assault that took place in Sheehan Hall. These two events conjoined leaves many students feeling uneasy on campus.

“Before hearing about this, I always considered [the] Commons to be extremely safe because of the door locks,” said a female Commons resident, who requested anonymity. “And, I mean, I should feel safe living on campus. But now given the recent incidents, I am realizing that just because I’m on campus, does not mean I can let my guard down. It’s unfortunate that as women, we have to be on such high alert always. I have had experiences with inappropriate Uber drivers before, but after hearing this story though, I will

not be taking an Uber alone anymore.”

This is an ongoing story. As new developments unfold, The Villanovan will provide timely updates. Sexual assault is an unfortunate but very real issue on college campuses, including Villanova’s. To report a sexual assault or an act of sexual misconduct, call Public Safety at 610-519-5800; the Title IX Coordinator Ms. Ryan Rost at 610-519-8805; or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. For more information on support resources, call the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) at 484-3436028. For more information on Villanova’s sexual misconduct prevention and education efforts, visit: https://www1.villanova.edu/ university/sexual-misconduct/ education.html. For the National Sexual Assault Hotline, call 1-800656-4673.

A Villanova student reports being raped by Uber driver in the Commons residence hall. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography

A sign on Villanova’s campus with statistics regarding sexual violence against college students. Lauren Armstrong/Villanovan Photography

‘Nova Nation: Hoops Mania 2024 Recap

Finn Courtney Co-News Editor

Continued from p.1

history has included Nicki Minaj, Drake and this year, Gunna. While many expected his selection, many students thought his performance was significantly better than last year’s.

Hoops Mania represents the start of a new season, with this season representing a fresh start for both teams with multiple transfers in and out on both sides. The men’s team will look to snap its streak of missing March Madness since Kyle Neptune took over as head coach in 2022. Meanwhile, the women’s team will look to build on its WBIT runner-up finish last season with March Madness success.

Also in attendance were several high-level recruits the Wildcats are targeting, including freshman Matt Hodge’s younger brother, Jayden, who is a junior at St. Rose. On the women’s side, Jordyn Palmer (ESPN’s fourth-ranked recruit in the class of 2027), Ryan Carter (eighth-ranked) and Jessie Moses (fifteenth-ranked) were all in the Finn on Friday night to watch the show.

As students packed the Finneran Pavilion, they were welcomed with good vibes, music from the Villanova Band and performances from the cheer and dance teams. They performed as Executive Board members

of the Nation took the floor to hype up the crowd with different chants to spur on the Wildcats.

Both head coaches, Neptune and Denise Dillon, soon kicked off the event by introducing their teams, respectively, with specialized walkouts for each player. The highlights were transfer forward Bronagh Power-Cassidy’s Ireland-inspired walkout, including her dancing with the Irish flag, and sixth-year star Eric Dixon, who received the loudest applause from the crowd. Notable after this was the return of two former Villanova players who served as MCs for the festivities. First was Brooke Mullin, part of the 2022-23 Sweet 16 team and a solid contributor all four years as a Wildcat. And then, to much delight, was legendary forward Kris Jenkins, who had the greatest shot in Villanova history to win the 2016 NCAA Men’s National Championship.

In the three-point contest, senior Jordan Longino and transfer guard Lara Edmanson’s team was victorious, while Canadian freshman Jasmine Bascoe and freshman forward Malcolm Thomas’s team took home the win in the inaugural skills competition.

Then came the annual blueand-white scrimmage, where the blue team won, 15-9, and the dunk contest, which saw two 10s given out to a beautiful Wooga Poplar dunk and then a Thomas dunk later in the contest.

In the scrimmage, strong per-

Gun Control in This Year’s Election

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

On Sunday, Sept. 15, Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump. On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at Trump during a rally, grazing his ear with a bullet. And on Sept. 4, four students were killed in a shooting at Apalachee High School.

With the 2024 presidential election just 40 days away, and multiple assassination attempts against the former president, how does this impact the topic of gun control on the ballot?

Following the most recent attempt, Trump posted on X.

“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishesIt was certainly an interesting day!” he wrote. “Most importantly, I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and, all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE. THE JOB DONE WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING. I AM VERY PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!”

Current Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris also put out a statement on X.

“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe,” she wrote. “Violence has no place in America.”

One may think that after two

formances all around gave Villanovas plenty to be excited about come the start of the campaign. In particular, Matt Hodge looked impressive for a freshman, while Poplar and Perkins didn’t look a step out of place despite their transferring in this season.

For Villanovans in attendance, however, the most important part of said scrimmage might have been the awaited return of blue and white streamers to throw on the court after the first basket, a tradition all in the Finn were excited to partake in after not having them the year prior.

Then, came the musical performance. For days and weeks in advance of the event, Villanovans were speculating over who this year’s performance would be after the discontent over last year’s choice of Rick Ross. Names like JID, Sexxy Red and even Jack Harlow were floated across campus, with Macklemore and Gunna eventually becoming two of the most-speculated, with neither having any commitments on the day of Hoops.

It turned out to be the latter, as Gunna came through the crowd to send the Finn into a frenzy. The Georgia native and rapper/songwriter released his fifth album this past May, “One Of Wun,” which skyrocketed to second on the Billboard 200 Charts and was recently featured on Tyla’s debut album. A four-time Grammy nominee, he has collaborated with top names, including 2011 Hoops performer Drake, Future, Travis Scott

and Lil Uzi Vert.

“It was expected, but also a lot of fun,” sophomore Alex Markatos said. “Compared to last year, this was way better and Gunna actually seemed like he wanted to be there.”

His performance, which featured several times going back into the crowd of Villanova students and playing several hit songs, earned mixed reviews overall but still more positive compared to what was heard a year ago.

“I would definitely say that this year was better than last year,” sophomore Corey McCall said. “What I really liked the most was his interaction with the crowd and his overall entrance.”

During The Villanovan’s live coverage of the event on X, there were two notable responses that conveyed confusion over who Gunna was, which, while a prevailing theme among the majority of the student body, did not take away from the excitement and electricity of his performance.

However, this year’s senior class enjoyed the festivities, compared to 2023’s shortened celebration.

“I thought overall hoops was fun,” senior Lily Herron said. “I enjoyed how they added the new skills [competition] this year and that it wasn’t super rushed like last year. As for Gunna, definitely not my personal taste in music, but [he] fits the Hoopsvibes of past performers so I get it, and moshing was fun as always.”

Astrology’s Secret Universe

assassination attempts in the past four months that the Trump administration would be advocating for gun safety and reformed policies, but that is not the case in this election.

According to Trump’s website, a campaign strategy is to “defend our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.”

With increases in school shootings, gun violence in America and racially-motivated shootings, voters have differing opinions about how these issues should be tackled in the upcoming election.

“I believe that stricter background checks need to occur in order to buy a gun,” a Villanova junior male who requested anonymity said. “People who have serious backgrounds with mental health issues, or are surrounded by temptation to misuse a weapon should not have access to one. I do not think guns need to be banned, but maybe an everyday family should not have an assault rifle in their home.”

“I do not think that there needs to be changes made to gun violence in America,” a Villanova senior male who requested anonymity said. “I believe in the right to bear arms, and that it is an American freedom to be able to own guns.”

Locally in Philadelphia, gun violence is not only a prominent issue, but also affects Villanova. With violence occurring in areas surrounding common locations, such as in the city and creeping closer to the Main Line, it is critical to educate oneself and learn about the different candidates’ views and policies regarding gun control and safety in America.

Allie Hesler Staff Writer

Last Tuesday, the Astrology Department hosted a moon and stars-watching event, open to anyone in the Villanova community. That night was chosen specifically because of a partial eclipse happening to the harvest moon. While it was unfortunately a cloudy night, the facilities themselves were just as impressive on their own.

In the main observatory, there is a reflector telescope that uses multiple mirrors to present a very clear image of the night sky. When the light comes in the front point it reflects off a curved mirror and heads towards a mirror in the front before reflecting back to a mirror with a 14-centimeter diameter, which is the image that is seen when looking into the viewpoint.

To access the stunning observatory, one does not need to be an astrology major or even be a Villanova student. The observatory is open to the public Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on clear evenings. During those hours, it is completely run by students who can direct people to the telescopes and answer any questions they may have. Once the clock goes back to standard time, the observatory will be open from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“VU astronomers wish to share our love for, and dedication to, our discipline with our community,” Dr. Frank Maloney, associate professor of astronomy and astrophysics, said.

Astrology majors will direct the telescope to any and all the beautiful and interesting things in the sky from that night, including the moon, planets, stars and stellar nurseries.

This service is a great opportunity for them to show off their skills and knowledge while also being a very informative and fun activity for non-astrology students.

The Astronomy Department also recommends that if students are interested in astronomy, that they should take some of many astronomy classes offered that are specifically designed for those not majoring in astronomy or astrophysics.

Courses provided this spring are “The Birth and Death of Stars,” “How Old is the Universe?” and “A Cosmic Connection.” All of the classes are very interesting and highly recommended for those who want to learn more about astronomy.

Most people are not astrophysicists or astronomers, but many have a way that they enjoy our universe through the night sky.

“In the U.S., there are millions of amateur astronomers, whose activities range from watching the skies with just their eyes to photographing the spectacular beauty,” Maloney said.

There are so many different ways someone could experience and learn about astronomy on their own level and pace.

The Astronomy Department at Villanova offers a wide range of resources for students and has great opportunities to get involved.

Despite being tucked away on the seemingly secret fourth floor, there is a whole new world to be discovered. Villanova students should strive to try and take advantage of the observatory and other available services offered by the department, even if they don’t have any prior experience in the astronomical realm be it major-wise or even their college.

Westerbeck “Smashes Stigma” On Mental Health

Emma Cote Staff Writer

On Thursday, Sept. 19, Villanova welcomed mental health advocate and author of You Are Not Alone , Zach Westerbeck, to campus. Dozens of students from nearly every chapter of Greek life on campus filed in to learn about and discuss the societal barriers surrounding mental health and how to most effectively and sincerely talk about it.

“The keynote will focus on the barriers college students face, vulnerability, creating networks of care and support and smashing the culture stigma associated with mental health,” the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life said in a statement.

Westerbeck is a Purdue alumnus and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Following his graduation and entry into the workforce, Westerbeck recognized a significant shift in his mental health. Always anxious and with a loss of appetite, he believed he had to make an immediate change.

Westerbeck attempted to rid himself of anxiety through routinely going to the gym and hitting the sauna, performing what he described as a “reset” from col -

lege life. Rather than stop his anxiety, this reset actually exacerbated it. Though immensely difficult, Westerbeck alerted his parents about his recent suicidal thoughts and paralyzing anxiety, and they encouraged him to seek help.

From there, Westerbeck began to seek professional help, where he was ultimately diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and fears.

During the event, Westerbeck highlighted the various sayings many tend to hear when they report struggles with their mental health. “You need to get some sleep,” and “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” and others were showcased on the slide.

Westerbeck himself reminisced on his reluctance to prioritize mental health for others in his college days, sharing that he “didn’t know how to have these conversations.” When a fraternity brother came to him to discuss his recent depressive thoughts, Westerbeck claims he simply didn’t understand how he could be feeling this way while being immersed in such a vibrant party scene.

During his journey, Westerbeck realized that attitudes towards mental health have to change, sharing that struggles with mental health are not a choice and

need to be discussed openly and free of judgment.

As a father, Westerbeck also shared the statistical chances of family members also having obsessive compulsive disorder, and how vital those conversations with loved ones are. He shared that his grandfather actually had undiagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder and how important knowing that would have been to his situation.

“Smashing the stigma helped me realize that mental health should be normalized,” sophomore student Meagan Clancy said. “Mental health is a journey.”

This process of “being

well,” “becoming unwell” and “recovering” was spotlighted by Westerbeck, who echoed the sentiment that healing is not linear

The societal stigma to “get over mental health” is one Westerbeck firmly argues is incredibly detrimental to college students. Due to academic and social pressures, students tend to shove their struggles away to make time for their personal lives, ultimately exacerbating the problem rather than seeking help for it.

In social circles such as Greek life, it is crucial that members and friends understand how to best have conversations regarding mental health in order to aid and understand their peers.

2024 Fall Preview Day Welcomes Prospective Villanovans

Ava Petrosky Staff Writer

On Sept. 21 and 22, the Villanova community welcomed prospective applicants interested in #GoingNova. Villanova hosted the Fall Preview Day of 2024, in which more than 4,000 students and their families sought out information about Villanova’s four undergraduate academic colleges.

The weekend began at the Finneran Pavilion, as the College of Engineering hosted information sessions and tours regarding the facilities and the four engineering disciplines. On Saturday afternoon, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences tabled both on the Rowen Campus Green and the Mendel Science Center. The weekend continued on Sunday, as the College of Nursing held tours and student-led panels in the morning. The weekend concluded in the Finneran Pavilion with tabling and tours regarding the School of Business.

“Fall Preview Day is a preview weekend that is designed to invite prospective students and their families to visit campus to learn more about the application admission process and more information about each of our four academic colleges,” Jamie Bowers, Senior Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admission, said. “It’s essentially our version of an open house that most colleges and universities have in the fall time, specifically targeted to high school seniors.”

The Office of Undergraduate Admission has been

planning Fall Preview Day for months, ensuring it secured the proper spaces on campus, as well as accumulated ample support from current students, faculty and staff. Villanovans volunteered their time to represent their respective major and college by tabling and answering questions of prospective students, as did Blue Key members by giving tours to families.

“Fall Preview Day allows prospective students to not only get a glimpse of what academic life is within each college, but also hear more from our Blue Key tour guides about student life and activities,” Harrison Jenkins, Blue Key President, said. “Each day begins with academic presentations hosted by each college and ends with an all-encompassing Blue Key tour.”

All Fall Preview days, regardless of which specific college potential Villanova applicants are looking at, present both opportunities into life at Villanova and crucial information as admission deadlines come up soon enough, a sentiment Jenkins shares.

“This event is encouraged for prospective students because it comes at a peak time in the college admissions process,” Jenkins said. “With early action and early decision deadlines at the end of the fall, Fall Preview Day is a great opportunity for students to see more about Villanova prior to deciding between a binding early decision or another form of college application.”

Students in the College of Engineering were particularly excited for this Fall Preview Day, as construction of Drosdick Hall is

now completed.

“I also think this [Fall Preview Day] is going to be really special because we have our new building,” senior and mechanical engineering student Ginger Krug said. “I know there’s a lot of new great lab spaces to show students. I think it’s probably the most impressive.”

Saturday afternoon, students from CLAS answered questions and shared their knowledge about their programs and courses.

“It was great sharing my Villanova experience with the Education Department to prospective students and hearing about their interests in education and teaching,” said Jenna Mackiewicz, junior education and mathematics double major and volunteer for Fall Preview Day. “We were able to provide the prospective students with brochures and course outlines to give them a better understanding of what their academic schedule could look like.”

Representing the College of Nursing, the Villanova chapter of SNAP, the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania, welcomed prospective nurses on Sunday morning. It provided tours of the SLRC (Simulation and Learning Resource Center) and offered a student-led panel to inform their visitors of the many nursing opportunities.

“[Fall Preview Day is a] great way for those interested in Villanova to be fully immersed in the school,” student panelist and SNAP member Angela DiBitetto said. “[This] gets [prospective nursing students] more integrated into the nursing school and see

what we have to offer for them.”

Sunday afternoon’s portion of Fall Preview Day was led by the Villanova School of Business Ambassadors. The Finneran Pavilion was organized with tables representing all VSB majors and minors. Prospective business students were presented with bags containing folders, pamphlets and further details regarding the programs offered.

“Our role is really to just be educators from [a current student’s] perspective, and also a support team,” Julianna DiCostanzo, VSB Ambassador Co-President, said. “We’re just kinda there to guide them through [the anxieties of the college search] as best as possible with any information that we have from our experience and from school as a whole.”

The energy of the Fall Preview Day was filled with anticipation as the campus welcomed thousands of visitors, both prospective new students and a variety of family members, all eager to experience Villanova up close. Such a set up was valuable to prospective students, as they learned more about Villanova’s specific programs throughout all four of the undergraduate academic colleges.

“I think [Fall Preview Day] has been really helpful just to get an insight into multiple areas of study rather than just focusing on one specific major,” Clara Condon, prospective CLAS student, said. “Especially having all the tables set up, you can really explore different things even if you don’t know much about them. And that’s been really helpful.”

Villanova welcomed mental health advocate Zach Westerbeck this past week. Courtesy of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Villanovans Attend Panel with Senators Casey and Warren

Isabella Balian Political Columnist

Zoe Garrett Political Columnist

Last week, United States Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) welcomed Villanovans to their panel event which tackled policy proposals for “greedflation” in our economy. Leading up to the election, many Americans are concerned about how elected officials will address economic policy and if they will lower the costs of daily necessities. As the incumbent senator running for re-election in Pennsylvania, Casey shared his perspectives on the issue through a discussion with Warren.

The event began with one of the Montgomery County Commissioners, Neil K. Makhija, who encouraged voter mobilization in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.

He acknowledged that despite voter intimidation and threats, every citizen’s vote counts, and it is critical for Pennsylvanians to vote in the upcoming election. Makhija then introduced the moderator for the panel, State Senator Maria Collett.

The senators addressed leading the fight against “greedflation,” which Casey defined as “when greed governs the [pricing] decisions of major corporations.”

They acknowledged that

rising costs are a major issue for Pennsylvania voters and those across the nation. The senators discussed their goals of taking on pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs, decreasing costs of childcare and helping Pennsylvanians afford basic necessities.

Throughout the session, Casey reiterated his passion for supporting the middle class and addressing illegal price gouging practices.

“We have to pass price gouging legislation to hold these companies accountable,” Casey said.

Both Casey and Warren also discussed passing Senate legislation to ensure more affordable housing measures and lower child -

care costs, efforts aimed to support Pennsylvanians in their everyday lives.

“This is real life,” Casey said. “This is a burden on families and on the cost of living.”

Warren spoke of her goal to empower citizens.

“Our job in the federal government is to put power back into your hands and to level the playing field,” she said.

The Villanovan also had the special opportunity to speak with both senators about voting as Villanovans in Pennsylvania races. Both Senators emphasized the critical nature of voting as students, and the impact our generation can have on the upcoming election.

With the privilege of vot -

ing in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania, The Villanovan asked senators about the role of student voting and how Villanovans can make an impact.

Casey acknowledged the influence that students can play in the upcoming election, specifically college students. He noted that voting as a student is “very important.”

Warren supported Casey’s response.

“It is the students’ futures that are on the line, and that’s all the way from student loan debt, childcare later on or finding a house,” Warren said. “Ultimately, it’s about what kind of economy we are trying to build and whether our democracy survives.”

Casey and Warren encouraged students to get out and vote, and to capitalize on the opportunity to let their voice be heard.

“The only way this can happen is if everyone gets out and votes,” Warren said. “If you guys vote, you guys win.”

The Villanovan also spoke with Collett, who echoed Casey and Warren’s statements regarding student voting.

“We know that the path to the White House comes right through Pennsylvania,” Collett said.

She discussed the importance of reading the whole ballot and voting for one’s state representative and state senator.

“Now is the time for students to get registered and get out to the polls,” Collett said. “Get out there and vote.”

Let’s Vote Nova Highlights the Importance of Voting

Finley Triano Staff Writer

In celebration of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, the student-run organization Let’s Vote Nova set up a table in front of the Oreo to raise awareness about the importance of exercising the right to vote. For many Villanova students, this may be their first time participating in an election, and Let’s Vote Nova aims to ensure they have all the information they need to register and make their voices heard in this November’s election.

The mission of the group is to educate students about the details of the voting process by providing resources that will explain how to register and cast a ballot. College students, specifically those that live out of state, have the option to either vote in Pennsylvania or their home state, depending on their preferences. This is very important, since many out-of-state students usually assume it is too difficult to vote and choose to not register at all, but all the resources on campus help solve this issue.

Students are not limited to voting in-person, they can also do so by mail and even online if the student qualifies. By offering a variety of voting methods, Let’s Vote Nova looks to make voting as accessible and convenient as possible. The organization hopes that by simplifying the process, students will take the

opportunity to participate in choosing the next president and other key officials.

Rowan Fossella, a senior political science and communications double major, was one of the representatives at the event. She discussed how she became involved in Let’s Vote Nova.

“I was inspired to join through my media and politics class that I am taking this semester,” she said. “Everyone in the class is a part of the organization, so it is a really close-knit community which I love.”

Fossella also stressed why Pennsylvania is such a crucial state in this election.

“Since Pennsylvania is a swing state this year, every vote counts,” she said. “Let’s Vote Nova has been actively making it easier to register as a voter in hopes of persuading more people to get involved.”

Sophomore political science major David Salvo echoed this sentiment.

“I think it is super important to have a voice in the government since it holds a lot of value,” Salvo said. “What people don’t realize is how government decisions affect our day-to-day lives and many of the long-term goals of our nation, so it is important to vote for your community and ideals that you feel strongly about.”

The importance of voting transcends academic fields. Students from various disciplines are

recognizing the weight of this year’s election.

“As a nursing major, my profession is heavily affected by the government policies,” sophomore Aisling Kelly said. “From more accessible healthcare to changing benefits and work hours, I look forward to having a say in who is elected.”

Upon attending this week’s event and speaking to some of the student representatives, sophomore Theresa Scarola was inspired to register to vote.

“I am really excited to be able to vote for the first time,” she said. “I really look forward to my voice being heard and having a positive impact on my future.”

Villanova’s diverse student body holds a range of political perspectives, but one message remains consistent: using one’s voice through voting can lead to a meaningful change. Students are encouraged to use their voices around campus, and now they have an opportunity to show their opinions to society through voting. The Let’s Vote Nova team encourages all students to get involved, not only in this election, but future ones, as well. For any additional questions or more information, contact Caroline Levine, Coordinator of United Events and Initiatives in the President’s Office, at caroline.levine@ villanova.edu.

Villanova students eagerly pose with Senators Bob Casey and Elizabeth Warren. Zoe Garrett/Villanovan Photography

Let’s Vote Nova hosted a table to engage peers ahead of upcoming elections. Courtesy of @letsvotenova

Former Vice President Mike Pence Visits Villanova

Isabella Balian Political Columnist

Isabella Carlin Political Columnist

Continued from p.1

of human history that allows people to express themselves in the Democratic process,” Pence said.

He emphasized how the Constitution has influenced his life. He explained how he views the oaths he has taken for public office as a direct defense of the Constitution. Pence then described a call to action for future lawyers in the crowd. He said it will be their responsibility to both support and defend the Constitution in their careers.

Pence was then asked about the role of faith in politics, and stated the importance of doing to others what you would want done to yourself. He told students about his strong faith in God and Christian values. Pence said that Christian values go hand-in-hand with democratic institutions, as “democracy depends on heavy doses of civility.”

While reflecting on his faith, he expressed that he hoped his colleagues would agree that he “sought the truth” during his time

as vice president. As a Christian, he also explained his goal of restoring civility in public life.

Students reflected on Pence’s connection to faith and Villanova’s values.

“I liked how he integrated his faith with Villanova’s Catholic mission and argued that faith is a path we all can take to restore optimism,” undergraduate student Chad Woerner said.

Moreland then asked Pence about combating cynicism in today’s political climate.

Pence acknowledged the strength of the American people as

what keeps him optimistic. In light of the events of Jan. 6, Pence noted the importance of upholding the Constitution in difficult times.

“The day is remembered for the resilience of our institutions,” Pence said.

Students reacted to Pence’s statements on democracy and the tragedy that unfolded on Jan. 6.

“As much as that event was tragic and a difficult moment for America, as Pence said, it was also a reminder that our institutions held strong and didn’t succumb to the pressure of trying to overturn the election,” Woerner said.

“Which we should view as a reason to have some optimism.”

Pence then advocated for the restructuring and fresh start needed for the Republican party.

When asked about former President Donald Trump, he acknowledged their differences.

“The President and I have a difference of opinion on the Constitution,” Pence said.

When asked about elections and presidential endorsements, Pence did not endorse either candidate’s presidency. He said he will be “simply staying out of the race,” and that he wishes both candidates well.

Despite political cynicism, Pence continued to echo his trust in the American people and in the goodness of the country.

“He is very principled in his values and has quite consistent beliefs,” Woerner said. “Although many people at Villanova will disagree with him, I hope people came away from that talk knowing that he shares many of the same values that we do at Villanova.”

Pence continued to mention the trust he holds in the American people when they vote for the next president of the United States. He concluded the conversation by leaving the audience with a final message. He expressed his optimism by saying that he does not worry about the country because he is hopeful for what the future holds.

The Spirit of Service Continues with Discussion Panel

On Sept. 18, three key organizations that were served during this past year’s St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service returned to Villanova’s campus to continue their important message of service to the community. Representing their respective organizations were Jackie Newns from the St. Raphaela Center; Tom Costello, founder of The Joy of Sox; and Jesse Antonini and Emma Smith of Martha’s Choice Marketplace and Community Farm.

During Villanova’s Day of Service, designated service groups visited these organizations to assist with various assigned tasks, while recognizing the importance of flourishing community centers.

“It was very smooth,” co-Director for Marketing and Outreach Victoria Diaz said. “It was almost overwhelming to see the number of people that showed up. Between students, staff, faculty and alumni all around the world, it made such an impact. It was so positive in so many ways.”

Despite this year marking the 19th annual Day of Service, it is the first year that the Day of Service committee hosted a follow-up for specific organizations. Throughout the day, Newns, Castello, Antonini and Smith were led by committee members to attend a luncheon, tour campus and serve as panelists at a small gathering in the Driscoll 132 Auditorium.

The panel lasted approximately one hour and was open to all students to attend. Panel moder-

ators and committee co-Directors of Community Engagement Patrick Casale and Colleen Buccellato asked the four panelists various questions about their organization’s intended impact, as well as their personal journeys to nonprofit leadership.

“It’s a mosaic of different people’s contributions and ideas,” Antonini said. “And I would say what [Martha’s Community Farm] is bringing the community together to feed the community. So, it’s people from all different backgrounds, different populations, everything. It opens all different kinds of partnerships, and the idea is that the community is going to come.”

Throughout the discussion, panelists heavily emphasized the reciprocal impact of serving one’s community. From an audience’s perspective, the possibilities to leave an impact expanded tremendously.

Newns, Communications and Spiritual Director at St. Raphaela, emphasized this view after the panel.

“The goal is if you find a service placement that you like, that is the right fit for you, then you desire to go back because it makes you a fuller version of yourself,” Newns said. “It’s not necessarily an application, and it brings you outside of the ‘student.’ You know, for so many people in college, ‘student’ is my main identity, and contributor, and artist, and musician and economist... there’s so many other identities that can be developed.”

Day of Service Committee and supporting faculty members considered the event a success. They will aim to uphold this new tradition in tandem with the Day of Service

itself.

Nick Tumolo, Director of University Events and Initiatives, shared a perspective on the panel which paid homage to the namesake of these events, St. Thomas.

“What I take away from this event and what we’re trying to accomplish with the larger St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service is to, sort of, introduce new students for the first time to this idea of fulfillment and being fulfilled, or creating opportunities for students who know that and are looking for that,” Tumolo said. “Even just listening to our partners, I feel very fulfilled by the ministry and the mission of their work and now want to seek that out even more.”

“I think the parting message should be that the Day of Service is obviously in the name of one day in which the Villanova community comes together,” Day of Service

co-Chair Mia Clingham said. “But it’s also, as everyone has touched on, a gateway into greater service and community at our University and beyond. We hope what people take away from this is that service is not a one-day commitment, it is a greater commitment, and we hope that you join us every day and can visit other organizations on the Day of Service website to connect you with other organizations on this campus.”

St. Raphaela, the Joy of Sox and Martha’s Community Farm are all in need of continued support from the community.

They are looking for able and enthusiastic students to assist them with a wide variety of tasks ranging from routine upkeep of facilities to impact research with the intention of trademarking. If one is interested in serving these organizations, do not hesitate to reach out to stvc@villanova.edu.

Villanova Law hosts former Vice President Mike Pence for an exclusive campus event. Hannah Sweeney/Villanovan Photography

Ella Grindle Staff Writer

Villanova Day of Service panel inspires year-round commitment to service. Victoria Diaz/Villanovan Photography

OPINION Mike Pence: Veritas, Unitas, Caritas?

Natalie Murphy Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, former Vice President Mike Pence was invited to Villanova to answer questions posed by students and faculty members. He discussed his successful political past, including serving time as a congressman, governor, and of course, his vice presidency. Pence’s career transversed several political and social controversies. The event began with an introduction by Dr. Mark Alexander, Dean of the Charles Widger School of Law. He reminded attendees of the values upheld by Villanovans: veritas, unitas and caritas, or truth, unity and love. Alexander took a moment to reflect that this means speaking with respect, knowledge and compassion, regardless of political views, as well as approaching the discussion with a welcoming attitude. Bringing up Villanova’s Augustinian tradition made me wonder: was Pence an advocate of unitas, caritas and veritas during this discussion?

Beginning with the issue of religious involvement in politics, I would say that faith massively affects not only various political issues and affiliations, but also the political climate. Pence duly noted that faith helped his political achievements, explaining when he lost campaigns, it was because he did not put faith into them.

“I am Christian, conservative and Republican, in that order,” Pence said.

Pence also called for the greater protection of the sanctity of human life, which he was disappointed that the Republican Party has not emphasized in this election. But can political policies be solely based on religion? Does religion play a part in constitutional values? No. The First

Sof Quaglia Satire Columnist

Amendment of the United States, under the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses, calls for a separation of Church and State, stating, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (U.S. Courts). Written in 1791, it is clear that the Constitution was written to prevent the United States from state-supported churches, such as the Church of England. Pence is entitled to his own religious views, but they do not have a place in the governance of the law or the Constitutional power, which he promoted as “The greatest national charter of history.”

I appreciated Pence’s recognition of the horrors of Jan. 6.

“There were circumstances at the Capital that I’d never thought I’d see,” Pence said. “I hope it’s remembered as a day that showed the resilience of our institutions.”

He regarded the day as “tragic” and addressed the rumor of misplacing electoral votes, stating that a single individual determining which votes count is unconstitutional.

He reflected on the 2001 election, in which Al Gore lost to George W. Bush by electoral vote. Pence commented that he felt he did his duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States.

Regarding the terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7, I was disappointed Pence did not emphasize the amount of civilian Palestinian deaths. He visited southern Israeli communities following the attack.

“If you feel the loss of civilian life, [that’s good]… but be careful what you end up defending,” Pence said. “I… stood on blood-soaked carpets… heard stories about children being tortured… set on fire.”

Such profound loss of inno-

cent human life is inexcusable, and in my opinion, the press does not talk about the number of Palestinian women and children who have been killed or injured in Gaza since Oct. 7. Moreover, Pence failed to explain context to the terrorist attack. This conflict has been happening for decades. I was surprised when several colleagues clapped after Pence’s statement, as in many ways, it did not embody the Villanova value of caritas.

“It’s the American people,” Pence said when asked what keeps him optimistic during this time of extreme political polarity. “The American people are not as divided as American politics.”

Pence shared an emotional memory following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He vividly remembers the plane that crashed into the Pentagon, and the horrors he saw on television that day. But something brought him comfort. The next day, the line for recruitment for the armed forces was around the block. Pence exercised unity in this segment of conversation.

“Our politics are the most divided in my lifetime,” he said. “But the character of this country is like no other.”

Pence recounted the several natural disasters which have plagued American land and the helping nature of citizens across the continent. As long as I can remember, politics have been extremely polarized. I found hope in this statement, hope of change and progress. In several ways though, I do not think the character of this country’s people reflects values in basic human rights, truth and love.

Did Pence embody our Augustinian tradition in his conversation? In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. I hope his visit was a reminder to all to examine our values of truth, unity and love.

Sof Says: Stop Hating on GrubHub

The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional. Don’t believe everything you read!

By the time our parents graduated college, they were engaged. They were ready to get married, buy a house and have kids. They had everything together. We do not have everything together. We can’t make our own doctor’s appointments. We can’t talk to people in person.

We can’t order food for ourselves without an app. Gen Z cannot order food without using an app. You heard it here first; we are incapable of doing it.

But don’t worry. There’s no need to fret because our schools will make it so we never have to order food without an app ever again.

Villanova has taken it upon itself to offer a GrubHub ordering system for its Gen Z students who are incapable of speaking to people in person.

Last year, one could order themself a burrito bowl or a chicken parm sandwich at Café Nova,

affectionately called Cova by the students, especially those of us who fell in love with the GrubHub system that was put in place there. This year, one can also order a latte and a muffin at Holy Grounds in the Connelly Center.

If we continue down the path we’re on, pretty soon there will not be a place on campus where we won’t be able to use an app to order ahead. Word on the street is that we’ll never have to talk to a barista again.

I’m pretty sure that the powers that be spoke to the world’s leading psychiatrists and decided that the best way to help the anxious overachievers at Villanova was to make sure they never had to interact with another human being ever again. And that is exactly how we ended up with my new favorite place on campus: the closed-off and soulless Conn Holy Grounds. I might be in the minority of students who actually like this whole GrubHub thing, but I think I am just the only person who is willing to be honest here. I can admit my faults, and I am about to admit to two pretty huge things here. Not only do I hate

having to order something from someone behind a counter, but I also used to be that person behind the counter, and I hated that just as much. That’s right, I hate the whole concept of the food industry. It stresses me out. I can’t be a server or a customer. I am the epitome of a pathetic Gen Z freak who cannot talk to someone in person.

And that is exactly why I love GrubHub. And I love you, Villanova, for allowing me to utilize this wonderful app to order food and drinks on campus. Thank you.

Thank you, Villanova and GrubHub, because I truly would rather wait a whole hour to get my food instead of just walking up to a very nice worker and asking them for a sandwich.

Thank you, Villanova and GrubHub, because I do love carving out an entire chunk of my day just to get a coffee when I just as easily could have waited in a line to talk to a human being for at most five minutes.

But this isn’t just about me. It’s not even just about the students who can also use GrubHub because they’re too scared to say, “Can I have an iced caramel latte

with oat milk please?”

This is also about the workers who get to benefit from this ordering system. They get to stand behind the glass windows in Cova or the little wall in Conn. They get to be in their little enclosures, and they only have to talk to each other. They just have to make the hundreds of orders that come through on the app. They have to pile up the food and drinks that people order and forget to pick up. They have to meet a demand that is created by an app, despite only being human beings. But, hey, at least they don’t have to talk to customers.

Look, I get it. People just aren’t ready to admit that this is an easier lifestyle. But everyone knows that people born after the year 2000 are incapable of doing anything for themselves, let alone doing something without the help of the internet.

Why are we so ashamed to admit it? The school is giving us an out here. They’re doing us a kindness by taking away almost all of our human interaction. Let them help. Stop complaining. This is a good thing.

Mike Pence pictured with a group of Villanova undergraduate and law students. Courtesy of Villanova Charles Widger School of Law

EDITORIAL BOARD LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

EMMA CAHILL

Editor-in-Chief

HANNAH SWEENEY

Editor-in-Chief

BROOKE ACKERMAN

Associate Editor-in-Chief

AVERY CHALK

Opinion Editor

KAILEY FAHY

Opinion Editor

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

POLICY

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

Gunna at Hoops Mania: A Mixed Review

Zoe Shackk Staff Writer

Macklemore, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Baby, Ice Spice and even Sabrina Carpenter: these were just a handful of the predictions circulating campus when it came to the 2024 Hoops Mania Surprise performer. Villanova’s choice for this year, rapper and singer Gunna, was a frontrunner in students’ expected options and one who was met with mixed reviews among the thousands of Villanovans attending Hoops Mania.

Hoops Mania is an annual Villanova event in the Finneran Pavilion seen as the unofficial kickoff of the men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Just like previous years, the night of Friday, Sept. 20 was one filled with music from beginning to end. Student singalongs to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” athlete walkouts to hits from “JT Coming” to “Hit the Quan,” and a mashup routine featuring the basketball and dance teams that included tracks from Beyonce and Tommy Richman led up to the big reveal of the night: the concert.

The surprise performer’s setlist ranged from some of his TikTok viral hits to deeper cuts for the true day-one fans. The consensus leading up to Hoops seemed to be that Gunna wasn’t the number one choice for many students: many of his most popular songs were works simply featuring him

Molly Duffy Staff Writer

that he wouldn’t be able to perform solo. Although some were recognizable to most of the crowd, other tunes were not as universally known to Villanovans.

A post from the campus commentary forum Fizz, published on the Saturday following Hoops, read, “Villanova is the wrong audience for Gunna.” Other comments on the site echoed the idea that other singers would have been better suited for the student demographic, one joking that

Macklemore was “out of Villanova’s budget” for the event.

Either way, it was clear that energy was high in the packed Finneran where students gathered to sing along and snap photos.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm surrounding the choice for some, it seems like even those reluctant students ended up liking the performance by the time the setlist was through.

After all, the number of students who stayed for the dura -

tion of the concert and the sea of Instagram stories featuring clips from Friday speak for themselves. Maybe it was the excitement of the new basketball season, the opportunity to celebrate the start of the weekend or just the performer’s ability to keep the crowd entertained, but it looked like a lot of the skeptics were swayed in the end.

“I didn’t know him, but I’m happy he brought a lot of hype,” freshman Sabrina Damien said. She seemed to sum up the way most in attendance felt, judging by the mix of hesitant lip-synching to every other song and spirited jumping in the mosh pit. However, the fact that so many were able to get into the performance, despite not knowing Gunna’s lyrics by heart, might be a testament to the fact that it isn’t just about being a die-hard fan. Rather, the success of any performer, at Hoops or otherwise, might lie in their potential to animate the audience—regardless of how familiar they are.

All in all, even though some would have preferred the likes of Kendrick Lamar or another A-lister, the Hoops Mania 2024 performance was a crowd-pleaser that simultaneously wrapped up the night and kicked off the upcoming months of games in the Finn and Wells Fargo Stadium.

Thanks to the spirit that our performer shared with the Villanova community, who knows what this season could have in store for us.

Coping with Campus Construction

If I had known that construction would follow me everywhere I went on campus, that may have changed my decision on where to go to college. I know that this seems dramatic, but when you can barely get back to your dorm because of construction, it truly takes a toll on your morale, especially when it feels like you cannot escape it. Last year, living in O’Dwyer Hall on the edge of campus was already an interesting experience in itself.

If you don’t know, O’Dwyer is the little house next to Campus Corner. Don’t get me wrong, it was a very special experience being isolated in a building of 60 students with the only other freshman dorms nearby being Simpson and Delurey, but the specialness of this experience dropped down a few notches when we realized that there would be construction next to our dorms

for the entire school year. It first started with the reconstruction of the path leading up to St. Thomas. Our walk to class got rerouted all the way around Simpson. Most people probably don’t know this, but there is a buggy ditch full of murky runoff water over there. That dimly lit and slug-covered path lasted a couple months, and when we finally got the normal path back, it was covered in ice, creating a treacherous trek to class every day, but that was fine because at least the walk was shortened by a few minutes.

So we got the normal path back for a few months, and then it was closed to be redone…again. This time, we had to walk through the new Drosdick parking lot, which added at least five minutes to the walk home from class. There is no worse feeling than returning home after a long day of classes and being reminded that you have to walk even further back to the edge of campus. This was all okay in the end because the school year

was almost over, and we were all so excited about living in the quad for sophomore year.

It did not occur to me that the construction of a new library in the center of campus would cause a similar amount of detours as I experienced last year. In the announcement of Vic Maggitti Hall, the University acknowledged that this would be a huge project.

“This major construction project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to upgrading the University’s academic facilities…located in the heart of campus…Maggitti Hall will be a dynamic hub that enriches the academic life of the entire Villanova community,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. said.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for updating our academic buildings, and there is no perfect way to go about the construction process, but knowing that construction on campus will not stop until after I graduate is an unnerving feeling. The new library is not set to be fin-

ished until the Winter of 2027, the end of my time here at Villanova. It does not just affect the students that live near the construction, but also every student walking by. On Sept. 19, Marliou Smith, Assistant Vice President of Engineering and Construction, announced that pedestrian walkways near the construction site will be closed, along with an entrance to the SAC parking garage, due to micro-blasts from excavation. The driveway leading into Sheehan Hall and Bartley Hall will also be closed intermittently because of concrete deliveries. Despite these being major inconveniences to students and visitors, the University has been very communicative regarding safety measures they are taking to ensure that the dangers of construction are limited. This ongoing construction feels like a major setback in my college experience, but I am excited and eager to see what the future entails for this campus, no matter how stressful and difficult the process may be.

Gunna’s set consisted of 7 of his most popular songs. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Classes Should Be Cancelled on Election Day

Kaitlin Lawrenson Staff Writer

Classes at Villanova will be canceled on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. That is the notification I hope to soon receive from our administration regarding Election Day. More than 41 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to vote in their first presidential election this November. That is 41 million opinions, 41 million votes and 41 million voices. As young adults, we are still navigating a world in which we have newfound responsibilities, especially being college students overwhelmed with work. For many students on campus, this will be their first presidential election, and this will also be the first election in which most students are eligible on the Villanova campus. The Villanova administration needs to seize this opportunity to educate all students on the importance of their ballot.

It is our God-given right as Americans to hold the power of the ballot when it comes to the leaders that govern this nation. This is a major responsibility, and one that the American public doesn’t take lightly, as we are writing our future. With this election, comes a new wave of voters at Villanova, who will cast their opinion on who should be the next president of the United States. However, most students aren’t educated on the power of their vote or even how to get registered.

Carter Smith Staff Writer

That is why Villanova has started a movement entitled “Let’s Vote ‘Nova,” to encourage students to exercise their constitutional right. Various booths have been set up across campus in which students are given the opportunity to register as voters in the state of Pennsylvania. Yet, I believe an even bigger push to get students to the polls on election day would be to cancel classes.

As college students, our primary focus is our education, and we often can barely find time to eat and use the restroom let alone walk over to the polls and cast our vote. For most students, it will slip their mind on election day

as it becomes one of their tasks on a long list of other things to get done. Voting shouldn’t be lost on a laundry list of homework and other events. By eliminating the daily schedule of classes on Nov. 5, students have large blocks of time that are now opened up to them. This provides each student with a major incentive to get out and go over to the polls. I believe that it is Villanova’s responsibility to educate every person in the student body about voting and how important of an event it is. Voting is not simply an act or a check on a slip of paper, but an honor and a right that our ancestors fought for each of us to

have.

“I believe that canceling classes on Election Day is crucial, especially at Villanova University,” freshman and political science major Megan Lawn said. “As a swing state, Pennsylvania plays a pivotal role in the 2024 election, and this significance goes both ways. It is essential to encourage college students to vote, as they represent a large portion of the electorate yet consistently exhibit lower voter turnout. By canceling classes for the day, the University would strongly enable students’ participation in this civic duty, emphasizing that every vote truly matters.” Specifically, for myself, I feel that it is very important for me to vote as a woman. Women have only been able to vote for 104 years, and the women’s suffrage movement was one of sacrifice and dedication by our ancestors. I feel that I owe it to these strong powerful women to use the right that they fought so hard for me to have. There are women in other countries who aren’t even allowed to leave their homes without their husbands’ permission, let alone choose who is going to lead their country.

It is Villanova’s responsibility to promote the privilege of voting. The most effective way for students to show up to the polls is by canceling classes, giving everyone the same opportunity. Let’s walk to the polls, let’s cast our ballot and let’s vote, ‘Nova.

It’s Time for Apple to Slow Down

On Sept. 9, Apple held its annual fall hardware showcase event.

The Cupertino-based computing giant showed off its new iPhone 16 and 16 Pro line up, the Apple Watch Series 10 and Ultra 2 and the AirPods 4.

Each product, while still being touted as the most advanced iPhone, Watch or AirPods Apple has ever made, only seem to deliver minor upgrades over last year’s model (especially in the case of the iPhone).

As minor upgrades increasingly become the hallmark of each Apple release cycle, consumers are beginning to question whether an annual hardware release is still necessary.

While Apple’s profits are still sky-high, it is time for the company to re-evaluate its hardware release model.

For the sake of brevity, this article will narrow its focus to the iPhone, due in part to its status as Apple’s flagship product, owning a 52% share of company revenue per David Curry of Business of Apps. However, this article’s findings are still applicable in principle to the rest of Apple’s product line.

Per company data, iPhone sales growth was exponential from its initial release in 2007 up until 2015, where it has since plateaued aside from a peak in 2021 which was likely due to a post-pandemic supply rebound.

This decline in sales is due to a major market trend: consumers are holding onto their phones for longer with each passing year. According to Weston Blasi of MarketWatch, the average American keeps their phone for 2.67 years, up from 2.5 in 2015. Blasi presumes this figure will climb to three whole years by 2027.

This increased lifetime of personal devices is perceived to have a couple major contributors.

The price of the mainline iPhone models has steadily increased since the initial release in 2007. The first iPhone cost $499 at base. The iPhone 8, the last mainline model with a home button, cost $699 at base. The last major price increase was the iPhone 11 Pro, releasing at $999, a figure which has been maintained since.

As previously mentioned, the magnitude of yearly upgrades has also decreased in recent iPhone generations. The iPhone receives what most consumers would call a “major redesign” every three to four years. Each new model inbetween delivers one or two marquee feature upgrades in addition to a suite of quality of life improvements. For example, this year’s iPhone comes with a dedicated camera control button in addition to a new chip set up which is highly optimized for AI support. Coupled with new software updates being available on phones that are up to five or six years old, there just are not that many reasons to buy a new iPhone frequently.

These factors have also led to a decrease in something much more intangible than sales: hype.

Due to its size and brand caché, new Apple product and software releases command the attention of the media. However in recent years, the attention has almost become more begrudging than excited. Much like the Marvel film engine, Apple has not brought enough to the table to hold the media’s captivation in recent years. This lack of excitement drives sales down further.

My recommendation to Tim Cook and Apple (if I could somehow get a moment of their time) would be to slow down the release cycle to every two or three years. It would give consumers a more compelling rea-

son to upgrade with each cycle and restore the hype to new releases.

Apple likely has no concern about continued profitability, nor does it face any meaningful market pressure to change its product releases. However, as an ardent fanboy, I cannot help but feel that changing the release schedule would aid in restoring the iPhone to its position of veneration in the tech world.

Apple is a successful company not just because it makes high-quality, innovative projects, but because of their brand image. Dropping new hardware less often is a way to bring back the hype they once had.

Students living on campus can vote in the Mullen Center on Election Day. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

Many Villanova students spend a lot of their time using a variety of different Apple products. Sam Rabin/Villanovan Photography

Satire: A Common Misconstruction

Isabella Ledet Staff Writer

The following content is purely satirical! Don’t believe everything you read!

In conclusion, according to the evidence provided, my hypothesis must be true.

Wait a minute. I should not be starting with the conclusion of my article, should I? That would not make any sense, right? Well, tell that to whoever designed the Villanova Commons.

It is a common conspiracy theory that the outside of the Commons was designed and built before the inside. Now, while the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” states to “begin with the end in mind,” I do not think that they were suggesting to start by thinking only of the end and then fill in the blanks afterward.

Have you ever noticed how the exterior windows and the apartments within do not line up? Some of my friends who lived in the Commons a few years ago had two windows in their living room, one at each end, but when one looked up from the outside, the windows appeared to be far more symmetrical. It turns out that the nice, symmetric windows were actually split between rooms. In addition, there was a two-foot bump out in front of one of the windows, completely blocked by the couch. What was the purpose of this tiny bump out? It was not

apparent to anyone. Though the awkward symmetry of the windows feels like a crime, the worst part of the Commons is that Canon Hall does not come to a 90-degree angle. The two buildings both zig-zag to allow for more green space on either side, but McGuinn/Trinity/Canon’s final zag is not fully straight.

One can see this on the floor plan or by observation. When walking down the halls of Canon, there is a point where the wall is simply no longer straight. Why this bizarre phenomenon is occurring is beyond me, but further serves the conspiracy theory.

The outside of the Commons must have been designed and built before the inside. How else could all of these weird things be justified?

The Commons took the place of several large parking lots, opening for residents in the Fall semester of 2019. They were built by architecture firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects, or RAMSA, whose team designs residential, commercial and institutional buildings all over the world. According to RAMSA, the design of the exterior was vitally important to the project.

“Taking cues from Villanova’s historic architecture, the Collegiate Gothic residence halls are clad with hand-laid natural-cut granite and brick, and enriched by cast-stone details,” RAMSA’s website states. “These materials, found on buildings throughout the

township, help create an impression that the residential complex has always been there – an idea that was important to University leaders.”

When reading RAMSA’s article about the construction of the Commons, the interior is hardly mentioned.

“You no longer drive past Villanova; you drive through it,” University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. said, emphasizing the breathtaking Commons exterior.

Yes, the exterior of the Commons is striking, and the

architecture certainly matches that of this historic campus. It just feels like this was overemphasized in relation to the actual functionality of the apartments, suites and singles within.

The Commons are lovely to behold and live in, but there are just some things that do not quite line up – literally, in fact. Overall, these breathtaking buildings have transformed the campus and I am lucky to call one of them home. In conclusion, my hypothesis must be true: the outside of the Commons must have been designed and built with the outside before the inside.

The Commons began housing students in Fall 2019 and include six apartment-style halls. Brian Luppy/Villanovan Photography

CULTURE

The SOLO NOVA Showing: I Will Speak for Myself

Cali Carss Staff Writer

This past week, the Theatre Department kicked off its SOLO NOVA Performance Festival with the first showing of I Will Speak for Myself on Wednesday, Sept. 18 in the Topper Theatre. This incredibly impactful play, written by Villanova Theatre Chair Dr. Valerie Joyce, staged a total of three performances and told the stories of 11 African American women who lived through enslavement in the U.S. The play is performed entirely by one actress, Villanova alumna Kimberly S. Fairbanks.

The set for I Will Speak for Myself was beautifully simple, with a few chairs and boxes laying on the elevated stage, many of them with the costume pieces that Fairbanks used to differentiate her characters laying across them. However, the hanging tarps across the back of the set drew the most eyes. As the audience filed in, the tarps displayed projected pictures and sketches of women from the Emancipation Era or earlier to set the scene early on for the viewer.

Fairbanks begins the performance playing Old Elizabeth, a woman who lived to see emancipation and was a female preacher with a powerful connection to her faith and her people. Elizabeth is one of two recurring characters in I Will Speak for Myself, acting as a narrator in between stories told by 10 other women. The second recurring character is an indentured servant named Mary, who came to America in 1643. Elizabeth tells Mary’s story for her throughout the play, as Mary was ripped from her homeland and dropped into a place where the language, customs, religion and land were unfamiliar.

After jumping back more than

two centuries from Elizabeth to Mary, the play continues in a relatively chronological order. The audience meets Ona Judge, an enslaved woman who escaped George Washington, and Abigail, a Philadelphia free woman nursing Yellow Fever patients. These are the first true character switches the audience sees Fairbanks undertake, and her complete change in demeanor and accent between the women is fascinating to witness. The tarps behind the stage project real information and documents about each woman before and after they tell their story.

Periodically throughout the play, the timeline rolls back and returns to Mary. As Elizabeth tells her story piecemeal alongside the rest of the women, the blatant cruelty of Mary’s enslavement becomes more and more distressing. She was forced into a religion that was not hers, forced to say prayers that were not hers and, worst of all, Elizabeth points to records that suggest she was punished for having a sexual relationship with a white man. It does not take much thought to conclude that Mary, with no power or protection, had no way to say “no” to this man.

Moving forward again through time, the audience meets young Grace Wisher, a teen girl from Baltimore who helped to sew the Fort McHenry flag and was also looking for it on the night in 1814 when Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the national anthem. The contrast of well-known figures alongside the African American women behind the scenes is a crucial factor of the play’s impact. The play goes on to spotlight several writers, including Harriet Jacobs, who hid from her enslaver in an attic to escape with her daughter, and Frances E. W. Harper, a poet who backed John Brown until his execution for inciting the

revolt which bears his name in Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

Once the audience has learned the stories of nine women, Elizabeth takes viewers back to Mary’s story, this time to the scene of her punishment.

This is the crux of the play, as the dialogue switches from the prayer Mary was made to recite to the anguished true voice of Mary, lamenting how her life was ripped from her grasp. The stage turns red as her words, though imagined, give the audience a front row seat to her suffering.

Finally, the audience gets Elizabeth’s story. The final monologue is a perfect ending to the play. Elizabeth recalls being sold to a plantation as a young girl and the all-encompassing loneliness that overtook her. She talks of her salvation and why she preaches despite the countless people telling her she cannot or should not. This ties to another major theme of I Will Speak for Myself: religion

and faith. This refers to faith in oneself, community, God and even faith in the people who betray you.

Everyone who left the show was taken both by the powerful message of the play and Fairbanks’ incredible talent. Each character was distinct from the last in the way she talked, acted and carried herself across the stage.

“I thought she was ery talented,” junior Jane Maleady said. “She put on a wonderful performance. Her stamina is crazy.”

Playing 11 characters in a 55-minute show is certainly a feat, and Fairbanks did it effortlessly, committing to telling each story and to honoring each woman that she put on the stage. Their stories show firsthand the darker sides of American history, and center on the strength of African American women, determined to protect and promote themselves, their families and their communities.

Heart of the Matter: Friendships Made and Maintained

Natalie Hyde Staff Writer

In an effort to get to know my fellow Villanovans, I want to take to campus each week and ask a variety of students to anonymously respond to one meaningful question. With the hope of anonymity sparking genuine and thoughtful answers, I thought I would begin with a discussion of friendship.

It was a nine-year-old’s worst nightmare: soccer tryouts. I was sinking in the seat of my car, picking my fingernails as my mom repeated her spiel about how committing to a team meant showing up even when I didn’t want to go. I obviously wasn’t listening because the only thought racing through my head was that I would fall on my face or score on my own goal or colossally disappoint my technically skilled second-grade counterparts. Luckily, I don’t remember any of that happening. I do, however, remember meeting my best friend, which was even luckier.

If there is one thing I have learned from the Augustine and Culture Seminar class, it is that a good life is one full of meaningful relationships. With that and the pitiful realization that I can’t see my best friend for another month, I decided to ask

Villanova students to take me with them into their memories. I wanted to know about the moment a best friend is made. Is the connection made immediately? Or, is friendship something you grow into?

“Our dads grew up together, so we were basically always going to be friends,” one student said. “But I’ve never been so thankful for my dad’s circle. [My friend is] the funniest person I know. It’s like she has my thought before I’ve already thought it.”

Another described her best friend as a maternal figure.

“It’s funny, she made me lunch before work every single day this summer,” she said.

This pair met on the bus to the first day of summer camp – a serendipitous seating chart was all it took to form this connection. After a summer full of laughter and partnered activities, they drifted, and yet, when this student’s boy best friend revealed his feelings, the only person she could think of calling was the girl she met over lake swims and bonfires.

“Even though we were only friendly in school and summer was months ago, she felt like the only person I could talk to,” she said. “I can talk to her endlessly for hours or sit in comfortable silence. She’s the person that knows me the best in the world.”

My favorite part about interviewing students was seeing their smiles grow as they mentioned their best friend.

“My mom forced me to hang out with her one day after school,” a student said. “I don’t remember how it all happened. One day, I thought she was the quiet girl in my class, and now I don’t think there’s a more perfect person for me.”

In every case, students have mentioned a best friend from home, one that seemed to have stayed close to them through all the changes of childhood and remained close with them today. They spoke with such adoration, the same light in an eye that appears when speaking of a romantic partner. Perhaps friends are just as fated as lovers.

But, with all the changes surrounding college, one of the hardest is going from knowing every minute detail of one’s best friend’s life to becoming long-distance friends. I asked these same people how they maintain their friendships and if their relationship has changed.

Many had similar communication strategies, texting when they could and calling every week or so to catch up. They found that with college schedules it is challenging to find time, but when they do it is like being transported back to their child-

hood home’s kitchen discussing who is taking who to prom.

“When I’m with them, nothing has changed,” one student said.

Another didn’t believe the lack of proximity has strained their relationship.

“It’s never the contrived ‘Hi, how are you?’ texts, but rather ‘This makes me think of you’ or ‘What’s your opinion on this?’” the student said.

Others don’t find it so easy to find time, but they find solace in the fact that they have years under their belt.

“She doesn’t know that I spilled my iced coffee this morning, but that’s okay,” a student said. “I still know her bedroom walls were once painted lime green and that her mom’s favorite Beatles song is ‘Here Comes the Sun.’ And that’s more than her college friends can say.” I wish I could relive the soccer tryout where I met my best friend. To whisper to my eight-year-old self that the girl next to me who forgot her shin guards and tirelessly itched her arms from the too-tight jersey would soon become one of the most important people in my life. I envy the pure, concentrated time we once had without having to play catch up on the phone or crossing my fingers that our school breaks align.

I Will Speak for Myself premiered this Wednesday, kicking off the SOLO NOVA Performance Festival. Cali Carss/Villanovan Photography

The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)

Katie Formato Staff Writer

Many struggle with the fear of missing out (FOMO) but often fail to consider the possible joy of missing out (JOMO). JOMO is a national initiative used by institutions to address technology and its impact on mental and social well-being.

Christina Babyak, Community Wellbeing Specialist in the Office of Health Promotion, helped organize JOMO and bring it to Villanova’s campus.

“‘The Joy of Missing Out’ (JOMO) is a Villanovans Connecting Offline initiative that directly responds to national and campus data and expresses the need for student communication skill development from faculty and staff and expresses student desire to become less dependent on their phones,” Babyak said.

The Office of Health Promotion and Learning Support Services worked together to organize JOMO on Villanova’s campus for the 202425 academic year.

This initiative gives students multiple strategies to limit technology use, such as tech break boxes, cell phone sleeping bags and workshops for integrating tech breaks into daily activities. At the Court at Donahue on South Campus, Falvey Holy Grounds and various other student life and academic support locations around campus, there are tech break boxes and conversation cards that students can use to help them take a

Ava Satterthwaite Staff Writer

As a newbie to ‘Nova, and, of course, to The Villanovan, I’ve been itching for an introduction. As a devoted Gilmore Girls fan and coffee connoisseur, I believe there is no better indicator of character than one’s morning (or afternoon, if you’re like me) drink of choice. So, if you’re equally irritated with absurd wait times and paper straws at the Conn, these are some quick caffeine fixes I’d recommend. It’s a little get-to-knowme, per se.

Rosie’s

This is the sole safe haven my treacherous afternoon trek to Ancients offers. From the innovative flavor combinations (ahem Lumberjack Latte… maple and black pepper?) to its tailor-made toasts and revitalizing smoothies, Rosie’s humors even the most curious of taste buds. I wasn’t feeling all too brave when visiting this week (I was en route to class five-outof-five under a sweltering sun, still coping with weekend scaries– wasn’t I brave enough?) but persevered and ordered something new.

Let it be known the ABC Toast (Pennsylvania local sourdough smothered in almond butter and banana slices, coated with cinnamon and generous agave drizzle) and the Falling Leaves Cold Brew (a strong brew infused with caramel and toffee) did not let me down. There seems to be new concoctions each week– like the Birds of a Feather Iced Chai, Good Luck Babe Acai Bowl or Pumpkin Pie Latte for those missing

break from their phones and be more present. Cell phone sleeping bags are also located in study areas on campus to help students focus on their school work without distractions.

“All first-year students will receive a cell phone sleeping bag at the Moments that Matter New Student Orientation Program to reinforce the importance of connection, belongingness and community in preventing harm caused by alcohol and sexual violence,” Babyak said. “[Second], all first-year students eating in the South Campus dining hall will have access to tech break boxes and conversation cards on the dining hall tables to encourage taking tech breaks during meal times to encourage socialization.”

Additionally, there will be student-led workshops on technology to help students set personal and academic goals. POWER is creating a technology goal-setting workshop that will allow students to learn about the effects of technology and explore their own phone usage, screen time and create goals to improve. On Oct. 4, the Center for Speaking and Presentation will also be facilitating its first workshop on making small talk.

The hope of JOMO is that students who use the tech break boxes and conversation cards will report greater rates of thriving in a culture of widespread mental health struggles among college students.

“More than 85% of undergraduate students report experiencing

Creative Caffeine Fixes

Starbucks– but these two embodied autumn. Whimsical and delicious, I have Rosie’s alone to thank for surviving the walk to West Campus. Holy Grounds Commons

If resolute in waiting an hour for a Holy Grounds coffee (is this a nostalgia thing? I’ve heard I missed its prime), at least wait somewhere with ambience. Holy Grounds Commons blends an intricate balance of bitter insomniacs, frantic writers and debriefing friends, and still delivers the duo I’ve deemed “old reliable” (iced vanilla latte and egg ‘Nova sandwich). In a universal desire to be wired, Villanovans unite. And all of this without Big Brother, GrubHub? I’m in Heaven (see what I did there?).

In all seriousness, I seem to cross Lancaster time and time again for a Commons coffee. I’m not sure what draws me: decreased wait times, the quintessential “get snug and get working” chairs or LaColombe (to me, the brew is richer and smoother than Starbucks, but we can debate another time). Whatever coaxed me, I am convinced a HG Commons outing is crucial before the next slew of exams. Also, HG Commons is open until 8 p.m. which is great for those who refuse to acknowledge their homework until their hand is twitching from caffeine trembles…. oh, just me? Okay.

Holy Grounds Drosdick

I’d call this the Commons’ little cousin. HG Drodsick is an elevated version of most other HGs on campus with an assortment of luscious sweetener and pristine architecture, in honor of our beloved engineers. With all its white chocolate, white walls and

nervousness, anxiety and feeling on edge in the past two weeks,” Babyak said. “More than 65% of undergraduate students report not being able to stop or control worrying in the past two weeks. Nearly 50% of undergraduate students report little interest or pleasure in doing things; feeling down, depressed and helpless in the past two weeks.”

Unplugging from technology and using the resources JOMO offers may help students find more joy in life and help those who may be struggling with their mental or physical health.

“Research demonstrates that putting cell phones out of sight significantly reduces the disruptive impact that simply having our phones nearby can have on our ability to focus and be present with one another,” Babyak said. “Putting our cell phones out of sight during our social interactions can also increase experiences of empathy and fulfillment in our communication with others. Research also demonstrates the impact technology use can have on sleep quantity and quality, which can compound the negative effects of technology on one’s energy, focus and well-being.”

If one is interested in learning more about JOMO, follow the Office of Health Promotion, @villanovahealth, and Learning Support Services, @villanovalss, on Instagram. One can also request to have a tech break box at a meeting or class, as well as conversation cards or a cell phone sleeping bag by emailing healthbytes@villanova.edu.

enormous polished windows, I wonder if Drosdick embraced the clean girl aesthetic or enforces artful avoidance of color to calm the racing mind of its habitués. This is where I’ve spent a good chunk of quick depleting MPEs, so no judgment here.

I tend to gravitate towards its delectable baked goods from liberally-iced cinnamon rolls to biscotti to banana bread and colossal chocolate crumble muffins…aren’t carbs meant to curb stress? Something like serotonin-makers? If so, I am certain Drosdick Hall is the ultimate hub for all goodies and the overstrained, caffeine-crazed students who relish in them.

First Watch

A 10-minute walk from the church, I imagine First Watch was devised with its Morning Mass brunch crowd in mind. Even so, the place is versatile– Catholic, Muslim or Jewish, omelets or pancakes or Million Dollar Breakfast Sandwiches– whatever the heart desires, First Watch can bestow. For this reason, I find it a

flawless proposition for all weekend brunch-goers.

I have to warn fellow chain-coffee fanatics, though, that this First Watch borders a once booming, now desolate “closed for construction” Starbucks. There are some fillers for esteemed drive-thru orders, including the Caramel Crunch Iced Coffee for ribbon crunch lovers and a Purple Haze Lemonade (fresh-squeezed lemonade infused with lavender and acai) for serious Swifties and all those aching for a refresher (I sense intersection there). In addition, First Watch offers a Morning Meditation Juice (a mosaic of orange, lemon and ginger for an ornate OJ). This is great whether this becomes a mimosa base or resourceful stand-in for a medicine ball post-weekend is your prerogative. If it’s too difficult to traverse Villanova knowing there are no tried and true PSLs to return with, I understand. Just know, when feeling lionhearted (wildcat-hearted?), First Watch will be waiting, welcoming and mouth-watering as ever.

Consider utilizing JOMO’s Tech Break Boxes during instense study sessions. Maggie Fitzgerald/Villanovan Photography

Consider making the journey to Rosie’s to try their famous ABC toast. Ava Satterthwaite/Villanovan Photography

VillaVogue: Reduce, Rewear, Repair

Ciara Dursee Staff Writer

“Reduce, rewear, repair” was the day’s motto on Wednesday, Sept. 18, as the Office for Sustainability hosted the Clothing Swap Event. The event consisted of free clothes, free snacks and a warm welcome to the “Free Store” in the basement of Falvey Library. Open to all of the Villanova community, attendees could bring gently used clothing to exchange, donate items or simply pick up new pieces.

Yen Leng Chong, a Villanova alumna who studied sustainable engineering and leader of the clothing swap, described the event as a “soft launch” for the Free Store. Chong and five other dedicated volunteers showcased their creative talents by helping in clothing repairs and assistance throughout the event.

The store received donations from move-out last year, including furniture, clothes and cardboard boxes, and this was able to jump-start the on-campus thrift store. The clothing swap was used to bring attention to the store, located in the basement of the library.

The greater mission is to ignite change. The purpose of the store is much greater than a quick

clothing exchange, as it hopes to promote sustainable actions. The store works within the Student Sustainability Committee, a team consisting of faculty, staff and students formed to instill a broader sense of sustainability at Villanova. The group works to make the University’s footprint smaller, emphasizing mindful and conscious behavior of how much students

are consuming.

Chong explained how her passion for sustainable fashion, combined with her experience in this field, allowed this vision to come to life. Even after graduating, she is determined to host these events in the hope of impacting the Villanova community and encouraging people to think about clothing consumption.

A key component of this event was the weighing of clothes. When students bring items of clothing, they are weighed and measured to find out how much is being saved from going to landfills. At the end of the school year, the store will have a data point with the amount of pounds that have been saved.

Villanova alumna Juliana Chen emphasized that events like these are helping to work against fast fashion, and are also making the opportunity to expand one’s wardrobe accessible for students on a budget.

Moving forward, the Office of Sustainability has big plans to promote the Free Store by holding educational workshops on upcycling, DIY classes and potentially inviting guest speakers to share further information on sustainable fashion.

While the event was held last week, the store in Falvey will remain open to anyone looking to switch up their wardrobe this school year. So, why not take a few minutes to look through your dorm room closet, grab a few clothing items and head to Falvey to donate and renew your style? Thrifting is one of the best ways to enhance your look, while also being financially and environmentally mindful.

Student Jobs at Villanova: Connecting with Campus

Ethan Lee Staff Writer

For many students, it can be challenging to balance academic responsibilities with financial needs, but on-campus jobs for students offer the perfect solution. These positions provide a convenient source of income without the hassle of a long commute. They can help students develop academic skills and make valuable connections, all while accommodating their class schedules.

Depending on one’s skill set, the Villanova University Employment website has a student job that is fit for everyone. Whether one prefers the high pressure of being an intramural referee or the peace and quiet of restocking bookshelves, Villanova offers a plethora of on-campus jobs that allows students to gain relevant experience for future internships and careers. With competitive pay and opportunities for raises, campus employment is a smart way to grow professionally while pursuing a college degree.

Campus jobs can be career-focused, helping students gain worthwhile expertise in their future field of work. Junior Aryan Patel has a research position with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He experiments with CO2 state conversion for sustainable energy use, as an alternative to natural gas, to help reduce emissions.

“Having a job provides responsibility with academic and work balance,” Patel said. “I’m glad Villanova gave me the opportunity to work on my own project

and pay me to do something I enjoy, [which is] not something you get with other schools.”

Patel’s research position not only complements his mechanical engineering studies, but also gives him hands-on experience that directly impacts his future in engineering.

Junior Jadyn Piotrowski has a more traditional on campus job, as she is the Marketing and Communications Student Assistant for Falvey Library. This job has allowed her to strengthen her communication skills, as well as engage with the campus community in ways that go beyond her academic life.

“ I put up flyers and set up for events that I often would otherwise not know were happening,” Piotrowski said. “Over the years, I’ve been able to build relationships with other undergrads, graduate students and the library staff.”

Student employment at Villanova has evolved significantly over the years, and no one understands this progression better than longtime member of the Villanova community Evan Dorsey. The longevity of Dorsey’s influence on campus holds strong, with more than 35 years of experience as a student, student employee and staff member at Villanova. Dorsey currently works as a Level One Classroom Technology Specialist on campus.

“Years ago, some student positions were regarded as socially unacceptable and looked down upon due to the climate of the time, especially if those positions were among the lowest-paying positions,” Dorsey said. “[When I

hold jobs at

was a student here,] there was a lot less diversity and less racial sensitivity, so certain students working certain jobs were viewed as ‘less than’ or ‘poor.’”

Today, student employment is not only widely accepted, but seen as a valuable opportunity for growth.

“Such positions provide the structure, skills, professional training and the life lessons needed for internal advancement and future-fulfilling employment,” Dorsey said. “Students get to work with other students they may have never met had they not chosen to work

during college and sometimes form lifelong friendships.”

This shift in perspective highlights campus jobs as stepping stones to personal and professional development, creating an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone involved. If students find themselves scrolling through the employment website, they may originally only focus on the “salary information” tab. However, it is important to remember that student campus jobs can be bridges to career advancement, personal connections and offer far more than just a paycheck.

The Office for Sustainability hosted a Clothing Swap Event on Wednesday, Sept. 18. Ciara Dursee/ Villanovan Photography

Students

many different locations on campus, including Holy Grounds. Sofia Occttaviani/ Villanovan Photography

Theatre of War Comes to Villanova’s Campus

Lauren Armstrong Co-News Editor

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, seven Villanova students will take the stage alongside five outside performers to showcase readings from Homer’s Iliad , Book VI and scenes from The Trojan Women by Euripides.

Pulling from their differing backgrounds and identities, the Villanova cast members, and the outside cast, will be using these readings to frame a powerful and healing dialogue regarding the human costs of war.

The actors’ backgrounds all connect to the themes of being impacted negatively by war and injustice within their societies and communities. Because many students in the performance are members of the Jewish community, this play and messages have a timely importance on the emphasis of peace and protection towards children and the innocent being harmed by war in Israel and Palenstine.

While students may not have direct experience with these topics, many individuals face these hardships and realities everyday.

“Even though war might not be happening directly towards them, I don’t think people should ignore it,” junior Zoë Magee, who participated in the performance, said. “There is power in knowl -

edge and researching what goes on in the world. This dramatic reading should make people think about the lives lost to violence and war.”

The performance is being brought to campus by Bryan Doerries, who has a background in ancient Greek literature and adapting these works to become applicable to the audiences for which he performs.

“While I haven’t talked a ton with Bryan, I really enjoy how he talks to us as actors and helped us put the play into perspective and explained what was going on in each moment in a way that

made what we were saying more relatable,” first-year master’s student Nyred Jackson, who will also be taking stage, said.

Performance Studies professors, both for the undergraduate programs and master’s programs, have been promoting and engaging students to participate in the show as well as to provide support in the audience.

“While I was studying abroad in Greece over the summer, Dr. Heidi Rose mentioned this opportunity,” Magee said.

“I was informed about Theater of War by my dramaturgy professor Chelsea Phillips and felt

I had to put myself out there for it,” Jackson agreed. Doerries’ prior works include a production of Ajax, which he adapted and produced for veterans, in order to connect the themes of PTSD and war violence. His productions have been performed across the nation in order to allow audiences to gain awareness for timely situations rooted within historical backgrounds in literature and history. By emotionally connecting with the audience, Doerries’ work has been able to impact differing communities throughout his professional career.

“We will have rehearsal with [the professional performers] before the show, but I am really excited to work with them,” Magee said. “Being a performer myself, I love seeing how professional performers can make themselves so vulnerable when on stage. Being vulnerable is one of the big steps actors must take to be seen as believable. They must not allow themselves to feel awkward because if they feel awkward so will the audience. I find their confidence admirable.”

“The Theatre of War: Hector, Andromache, and the Death of Astyanax” is set to take place in the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. The show will be free of cost to the Villanova community, but registration is required.

Philadelphia Concerts: The Inside Scoop

Catherine Nearpass Staff Writer

The city of Philadelphia is home to one of the most vibrant music scenes in the United States. Up and coming rappers such as Sexyy Red and Ken Carson headline concert venues on the weekends, but Philadelphia also has strong roots in classical and orchestral music.

The diversity of the music scene reflects the changing nature of the city. The city once hosted the nation’s founding fathers who worked to shape our country into what it is today. This sentiment carries through in many aspects of the city but is very prevalent within the music and concert scene. Just like legislation, music grows and changes as time goes on, but it also reflects the experiences of people from around the world.

The city of Philadelphia has an enormous amount of music venues and concert sites. A few of the most popular music venues are the Fillmore, Franklin Music Hall and the Mann Center.

The Wells Fargo Center is in the top 10 venues in the United States and is home to multiple Philadelphia sports teams. The Wells Fargo Center hosts some of the most popular artists every weekend. The Wells Fargo Center is only 13 miles from Villanova and is accessible by train and subway. The Fillmore is a top choice of many in Philadelphia, as it also

regularly hosts great performers. In addition, Philadelphia is home of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as the Chamber Orchestra and the Old York Road Symphony Orchestra.

While these are some of the most well-known places to see one’s favorite artists, there are numerous underground hotspots worth highlighting. The lesser known spots are prime areas for listeners to catch a band before they become famous.

Underground Arts, the Trocadero Balcony and Franky Bradley’s are some of the best places to eat and enjoy live music. For fans of house, electronic and dance music there is an extremely lively club scene in Philadelphia in addition to traditional live music. Some of the best DJs are hanging out at Warehouse on Watts, Cavanaugh’s River Deck, NOTO and so many more.

During the month of October, a wide array of artists will be visiting Philadelphia. On Oct. 26, Italian conductor and former Philadelphia Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti will return to Marian Anderson Hall. Pop fans in Philadelphia should get excited this month, as Conan Gray will be performing on Skyline Stage on Oct. 1. Justin Timberlake will be performing at the Wells Fargo Center on Oct. 11, after Grammy award-winning singer Billie Eilish takes the stage there on Oct. 5. Singer songwriter Sabrina Car-

penter will also be performing at the Wells Fargo Center as a part of her Short ‘N Sweet Tour. She will take the stage on Oct. 8. For

Theatre of War will be performed at the Mullen Center on Wednesday, Sept. 25. Brian Luppy/ Villanovan Photography

fans of rock, COIN will be playing at the Fillmore on Oct. 24, as well as Sting at the Met Philadelphia on Oct. 1.

The Mann Center holds outdoor concerts in Philly, most recently Mt. Joy on Sept. 20. Courtesy of Dorothy McCarthy

Charlotte Kyles Staff Writer

As the weather gets colder, and we hit mid-September, the summer haze has officially worn off. Students around campus are starting to feel the academic pressure kick into high gear. It can be easy to ignore some of our personal anxieties, such as friendships and self-confidence. Emma Chamberlin, former YouTube vlogger and internet personality, has directed some of her talent towards a new form of media, via a podcast.

Her podcast Anything Goes is one of her many successful entrepreneurial endeavors over the past few years. Her episodes range from product recommendations to answering tough questions like how to deal with relationship anxiety and breaking bad habits. As someone who became famous overnight at such a young age, she has a lot to share with the world in terms of life advice for teenagers. Her career has been semi unconventional which makes for good storytelling and perspective on common issues that most young adults face daily.

Despite being on a crowded

ListenUp! Anything Goes

college campus, college life can get lonely, no matter how many friends you have. Anything Goes is an easy podcast to turn to when one is in need of comfort from someone outside of one’s immediate circle of friends and family. The goal of many of her episodes is to make listeners feel understood. Most students experience a lot of the same dilemmas, however they can sometimes be hard to discuss.

A central focus for Chamberlain is relationships. Due to her quick rise to fame, she has been in the public eye since she was 16. Consequently, it was difficult for her to find genuine friends in the industry. She talks a lot about loneliness in a room full of people and trust issues with close friends. Her episodes

“Relationship Anxiety, Advice Session” and “Trust Issues and Bondaries, Advice Session” go into detail abouther own experiences but also give general suggestions for how to handle stressful situations.

Chamberlain also feels passionate about the effect of social media and how distracting it can be. With her entire career being based around her social media presence, it’s interesting to hear from someone so young and

learn why she decided to take a step back from apps like TikTok and Instagram. She defends her opinion in episodes titled “Managing my Internet Addiction, a Talk With Emma” and “Things to Do Instead of Doom Scrolling.”

With schoolwork piling up and midterms not so far away, it

can be hard to concentrate when one is anxious about relationships or struggling with time management. Whether one wants a light and funny monologue on 2010s fashion trends or advice on how to stop doom scrolling, Anything Goes has an episode for any mood and any time.

Our expert podcast listener, Charlotte Kyles, recommends Emma Chamberlain to readers. Emma Cahill/ Villanovan Photography

SPORTS

Wildcat Watch: FH Assistant Karlia Kisha at Olympics

Amanda McKean Sports Columnist

After returning from a summer trip across the Netherlands, Villanova field hockey has started the season with a 5-3 record.

The Wildcats had a strong beginning to Big East play on Friday, with a dominating, 6-1 win against Georgetown before defeating William & Mary on Sunday, 2-1.

One factor contributing to Villanova’s early success is having an Olympian on the coaching staff, with assistant coach and Pennsylvania native Karlia Kisha rejoining the team full time after previously working under ‘Cats head coach Joanie Milhous for three seasons (2018-20).

“I know the area, I know how much field hockey lives in the area,” Kisha said. “It’s huge, it flourishes here. I’ve always seen the opportunities at Villanova. Talking to [Coach Milhous] and her dreams for Villanova at that time…I was just so excited to see her excitement for the team and for the program that I just fell in love with the school.”

Before coming to Villanova, Kisha was part of two national championship teams and four final four teams at UConn, being named a NFHCA Division I All-American and to the NCAA Division I Championship All-Tournament Team her senior year.

“It was awesome,” Kisha said. “I think we only lost, like, five games in four years, which was pretty

cool. I was lucky and fortunate to be amongst a great group of women… Talent and skill can only go so far if you don’t have a team culture to back that up, in teammates that you want to play for, and who you would do anything for.”

During her college years, Kisha competed for the United States National U21 and U19 teams. In 2019, while she was volunteer-coaching at Villanova, she was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team traveling roster for the U.S. Women’s National Development Squad tour of The Netherlands.

By 2020, Kisha took time away from helping at Villanova to focus on her career with the U.S. National Team as she continued on the Olympic Development Pathway. After being bumped up to the senior US Women’s National Team in 2021, Kisha went on to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kisha’s path to achieving her dream was not an easy one, as her

team had to fight hard in the 2024 FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifier as one of the lowest-ranked teams and after failing to qualify for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

“It was crazy,” Kisha said. “I don’t think anyone thought we were going to do it, except for us. Keep in mind, once we beat Japan to qualify in India, we ended up being in India for seven weeks. We all lost, like, ten pounds. We literally came back skin and bones. We all got sick within 48 hours. It was something, but great team bonding, that’s all I have to say. But to be on the field and not only have my dreams come true, but to see [the team’s] dreams come true was just absolutely awesome.”

With this achievement also came a personal roadblock for Kisha to navigate.

In early May, five weeks before the roster for Paris was announced, Kisha was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. Two weeks after her diagnosis, Kisha had surgery

to remove her thyroid and the lymph nodes to which the cancer had spread. In the following weeks, she underwent radiation as she tried to make it back on the field.

Within the span of a month, Kisha went from diagnosis to her return to competition, eventually earning a spot on the 16-player roster.

“It was all kind of a whirlwind, a very quick turnaround to try and get the cancer out because I had a slightly more aggressive type of thyroid cancer,” Kisha said. “It ended up spreading to my lymph nodes, so I have a pretty decent scar. My surgeon did a great job. I was able to get back out and play an international game a little over two weeks later. But then over the summer, right before we left, I had to get radiation so I was radioactive for a little bit. I wasn’t fully cleared to go to Paris until about five days before we left. It was not pretty, lots of emotions, lots of ups and downs, but just made the Olympics that much sweeter.”

Although the team did not get out of the group stage in the Olympics, Kisha can forever say that she is an Olympian and experienced the dream of representing Team USA.

“It was so cool,” Kisha said. “We had air conditioning. Our beds were fine. The chocolate chip muffins were fantastic. The camaraderie of Team USA and all of the teams, even just Olympians themselves, was such a cool thing to be a part of. My teammates and I all went and got the Olympic rings tattoo together in Paris. It was fun.”

Field Hockey Claims Two Wins over Weekend

Ali Benjamin Staff Writer

Villanova field hockey (5-3, 1-0 Big East) claimed two wins over the weekend. Villanova recorded a 6-1 win over Georgetown at home in the team’s Big East opener on Friday, and a 2-1 double overtime win over William & Mary on Sunday.

In the Georgetown game, sophomore goalie Maddi Sears and the ‘Cats’ defense held off the Hoya offense for the entire first half. Meanwhile, the first 30 minutes of the game saw five successful scoring attempts from the Villanova offense.

After several unsuccessful scoring attempts off of penalty corners early on, sophomore forward Colleen Finnan put the first point on the board for the ‘Cats just after the 10-minute mark. Coming off of a penalty corner from senior midfield/forward Emma Schwarz, graduate forward Meghan Mitchell, assisted by graduate forward Sabine de Ruijter and sophomore back Gemma Lysaght, put a second goal in the net for the ‘Cats only 37 seconds into the second period. Two minutes later, de Ruijter sank goal number three with an assist from Finnan. Graduate forward Ava Berkowski secured Villanova’s lead at the half with two more success -

ful shots on goal, both within the final 10 minutes before the end of the second period.

“The things that we were doing naturally in the first half we kind of took for granted in the second half,” Villanova head coach Joanie Milhous said. “Georgetown came out stronger than they did in the first half, but we still remained composed. I would say the biggest difference is that we were in full attack mode the first half and it showed with all the goals we put up on the board.”

Villanova retained its momentum after the halftime break. With several early blocked shots and a green card called on Georgetown’s Elena Leahy, the ‘Cats maintained their 5-0 lead at the end of the third period. The final 15 minutes began with the Hoyas’ first goal. Another green card, followed by a yellow card, on Georgetown’s side created one last scoring opportunity that Finnan capitalized on. After an unsuccessful first attempt, she followed up on another penalty corner from Schwarz and sank the game’s sixth and final goal for Villanova.

The ‘Cats then traveled down to William and Mary on Sunday where they walked away with their second win of the weekend, and their third win in a row. Sears started again in Villanova’s goal, and there was strong play on both sides. de Ruijter put the ‘Cats

on the board in the 26th minute off of a rebound in front, and the Tribe attempted a response off of a penalty corner, but a save from Sears kept a 1-1 tie at the end of the half. A quiet third period with only one unsuccessful shot from each side led to a missed shot from Mitchell and a green card on William and Mary’s Josette DeGour in the fourth period, which then left both teams at one goal each, and forced the game into overtime.

After the first overtime period, the game remained tied despite several scoring opportunities for both teams, in the form of both penalty corners and straight shots on goal.

“I think we do a really great job of rotating and subbing our girls to keep them fresh,” Milhous said. “To keep them fresh by that second overtime is obviously difficult but I know Sabine said she and Meghan turned to each other and basically were like ‘Alright our legs are done we gotta get this done’ and they did. We knew that they were done. We also knew that they had the skill, the talent, all the intangibles to finish that game off for us. When things matter we know that they’re gonna get it done no matter if they’re exhausted.”

The second overtime ended almost as quickly as it began with a missed shot by Mitchell rebounding into an assist for de Rui -

jter to help the ‘Cats walk away with a 2-1 win after 71:41 of game time.

“Sabine had a very strong game,” Milhous said. “Sabine and Meghan combined for that last winning goal was… the epitome of the two of them. Meghan created the opportunity and Sabine finished it so I loved how it was a combination effort from our two 5th year captains. It couldn’t have been better. She had a great game and it was nice to see them finish it off together.”

Villanova will host Big East opponent Quinnipiac (2-6, 0-1) next on Friday, Sept. 27.

“We know that every Big East game is going to be a very strong competition regardless of the opponent and regardless of anybody’s record,” Milhous said. “It was a great win against Georgetown and now Quinnipiac is another very strong team and we need to definitely bring our A-game. We just need to clean some things up because I know Quinnipiac is going to bring a great game against us. We are going to be completely prepared and can’t wait for it.”

Following their matchup against Quinnipiac, the ‘Cats will stay at home to face Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 29. The Hawkeyes are 4-2 this season. Iowa is coming off a 5-0 loss against No. 1 Northwestern.

Kisha competed for USA Field Hockey at the 2024 Olympics. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

No. 6 Football Prepares for LIU

Jon Hunn Staff Writer

No. 6 Villanova (3-1, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association) will face Long Island University (04, 0-0 Northeast Conference) at Villanova Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. for the annual Family Weekend game. The Wildcats return home after a difficult, 38-20 loss last week at Maryland. The Terrapins put points on the board on each of their first four drives, including three touchdowns, as they cruised to victory.

Following the loss, Villanova dropped to No. 6 in the FCS Stats Perform Poll.

Villanova’s defense has performed well against its first three FCS opponents, allowing just 11 points per game. In College Park, Villanova allowed 38 points, the most since the Wildcats’ last matchup with an FBS member, a 48-14 loss to Central Florida in September of 2023.

Villanova graduate quarterback Connor Watkins continued to protect the football. Watkins has not registered a turnover this season, but ball security alone could not save the outmatched Wildcats. Villanova allowed 497 yards of total offense, three rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns.

Additionally, Villanova’s running backs struggled against Maryland. The ‘Cats mustered 2.3

yards per tote on 32 team carries, netting 75 yards. Redshirt freshman Ja’briel Mace led the ‘Cats with 24 rushing yards.

The Wildcats will look to recapture their prolific ground game they leaned on in their first three games in the upcoming contest against LIU.

The Sharks have had a very difficult start to the season, failing to pick up a victory in any of their first four games.

LIU led for most of the second half in its most recent defeat at home against Rhode Island. The Sharks held a 21-14 lead over the Rams before allowing two touchdowns in the final 3:40 of the fourth. The Sharks have two

other one-score losses, against No. 20 UAlbany and Lehigh.

LIU’s offensive attack is led by sophomore quarterback Luca Stanzani. Stanzani has thrown for 569 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season to go along with two interceptions.

The most recent matchup between the ‘Cats and the Sharks came on Sept. 10, 2022. Villanova defeated LIU, 38-21, in a wireto-wire victory in Brookville. The ‘Cats lead the all-time series with the Sharks, 2-0.

Villanova will look to recapture its early-season success against LIU this Saturday. The game will be broadcast on FloSports.

Sept. 18 – Sept. 24

Wednesday, September 18

Thursday, September 19

Friday, September 20

Women’s Tennis @ Villanova Invite

No Team Scoring Field Hockey vs Georgetown 6-1 W

Men’s Soccer vs Marquette 2-3 L Volleyball vs Temple 3-0 W

Women’s Cross Country @ Main Line Invitational 1st of 9

Saturday, September 21

Women’s Tennis @ Villanova Invite

No Team Scoring Football @ Maryland 20-38 L Volleyball vs Rhode Island 3-0 W

Sunday, September 22

Women’s Tennis @ Villanova Invite

No Team Scoring Field Hockey @ William & Mary 2-1 W

Women’s Soccer @ Seton Hall 0-0 T

Monday, September 23

Men’s Soccer Remains Winless on Season WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

Elijah McDow Staff Writer

Six minutes into its match with Marquette at Higgins Soccer Complex on Sept. 20, Villanova men’s soccer took a 1-0 lead on the Golden Eagles after graduate forward Colby Raymond’s third goal of the season. Two minutes later, the Wildcats lost that lead.

The ‘Cats would ultimately fall to the Golden Eagles in this season’s Big East opener, 3-2, after giving up two Marquette goals in the first 22 minutes of the match. A little over 72 hours later, the Wildcats drew Penn 2-2, bringing their overall record to 0-5-3.

The loss to Marquette marked seven consecutive games without a win, which surpassed the streak of results set by last year’s team to open the season. The 2023 Wildcats found their first and only win of the season in the schedule’s seventh game. Through a coaching change and roster transition, the ‘Cats are winless over their last 16 matches. Villanova has not produced a home victory since a 1-0 win over Navy on Oct. 25, 2022.

Despite the loss, Villanova head coach Mark Fetrow remained positive about the game with Marquette.

“This was a great opportunity for us to restart our season,” Fetrow said. “The way we talk about it is, the first eight games of the season are all non-conference games, but once you start Big East

play it’s your second season… We really felt confident going into the game and being at home and having some home field advantage.”

Two minutes after Raymond’s goal, assisted by graduate midfielder Branden Johns, claimed an early lead for the ‘Cats, a penalty was given to Marquette on a handball. Golden Eagles junior midfielder Mitar Mitrovic converted from the spot.

Fifteen minutes later, Marquette was awarded its second penalty of the game and Mitrovic converted yet again to give the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Following the second goal, Fetrow brought on senior forward Vincent Petrera, senior midfielder Jordan Canica and freshman midfielder/forward Karson Vazquez.

These changes paid off as Canica evened the scoring in the 32nd minute. The score remained balanced through to the halftime break.

When asked about conceding successive penalties, Fetrow praised the response of his team while also recognizing a troubling

pattern.

“Both times we bounced back from it and kept competing,” Fetrow said. “It’s a bad habit. We’re scoring goals and giving up goals quickly after that. It’s something we’ve addressed and will focus on changing. But I thought the way they handled it, their body language and their ability to stay on the front foot and move on to the next play was pretty good.”

The second half was tightly contested, but Marquette took back the lead with a goal in the 67th minute. Sophomore defender Ryan Amond’s first goal of the season proved to be the decider.

The Wildcats mustered three shots over the final 20 minutes, one of which forced a save.

Late in the game, there were appeals for a handball against Marquette. The play went under review but was deemed as fair play by the referee.

After the match, Fetrow emphasized the aggression of the Wildcat offensive attack.

“Our ability to attack and our ability to continue to have the

Tuesday, September 24

Men’s Soccer vs Penn 2-2 T

ball for stretches creates opportunities, ” Fetrow said. “Anytime you score two goals.. you kind of expect to win the game when you score two goals. On the flip side of that… I thought there [were] really three or four [goals] that we could have got there, one including the handball that wasn’t called, but there was enough opportunity that we could have still won the game, even with the errors.”

Villanova went the remainder of the game without finding a goal to draw itself level. The ‘Cats lost, 3-2.

Through the early parts of the season, Villanova typically had six or seven days between matches. The three day gap between the Marquette match and the Penn match is indicative of the remainder of the ‘Cats schedule. Tight turnarounds will become common through October.

“This is really what it’s going to be like in October,” Fetrow said. “In October we’re gonna play a lot of games in this similar fashion, and it’s gonna be a good training session tomorrow… then we got one day to prepare for Penn which is playing against a ranked team so another good opportunity to get ready for the Big East.”

Following the draw with Penn, the Wildcats will travel to Queens to play against St. John’s in their second Big East matchup of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.

Men’s soccer is still hunting for its first win of the season. Courtesy of Villanova University

Villanova dropped to No. 6 in the FCS Stats Perform poll after its loss to Maryland Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Villanova Sweeps Temple, Rhode Island in Wildcat Challenge

Madison Hodges Staff Writer

In front of an enthusiastic audience at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse, Villanova women’s volleyball dominated Temple in straight sets (25-17, 25-23, 25-21) on Friday, Sept. 20.

Villanova then swept Rhode Island (25-12, 25-23, 25-19) on Saturday to close out its victory at the Wildcat Challenge.

The ‘Cats are now winners of four straight, bringing their record to 7-4.

The Wildcats played with aggression. Freshman setter Alyssa Nelson totaled 17 assists. Nelson’s efforts helped direct the attack to sophomore outside hitter Abby Harrell, who led the way with 12 kills. Freshman middle-blocker Campbell McKinnon also recorded 12 kills. McKinnon has had an electrifying freshman season. McKinnon leads the team in blocks with 42, and is second in kills to Harrell.

“Campbell [McKinnon] is a breath of fresh air,” Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach said. “She plays really hard, and is a highlight reel. She is such a fun kid to coach and it has been awesome to have her on the team.”

Harrell has continued her success from freshman year, establishing herself as one of the team’s leading scorers.

“Abby [Harrell] is a grinder, works really hard and does all the little things you need to do to be success-

ful,” Steinbach said. “Both [Harrell and McKinnon] work really hard and are very thoughtful about the game. They both study and pay attention to what is going on in the game. So I am very excited to have both of them on the team.”

Villanova did not take long to establish itself in the opening set.

With a close score early in the first set, Villanova relied on McKinnon’s solid attacks and a few errors from Temple to gain a 10-7 lead. Temple fought to come back later in the set, Villanova was able to close out the set on a five-point run.

In the second set, Villanova started off with a 4–1 lead, but Temple was unwilling to let that lead build. With some aggressive offense from the Owls and some errors from the Wildcats, Temple eventually took the lead, 11-7.

The ‘Cats took back control of the game on their home court and eventually reclaimed the lead, 20-15.

Although Villanova had a substantial advantage heading toward the end of set two, the Owls would not give up. Temple went on a six-point run to close that gap and eventually tied the set 22-22.

The Wildcats were able to close out the set with a 25-23 win.

After almost taking the second set, the Owls used that energy to fuel them into the third, taking an early 3-0 lead. But the freshman-sophomore duo of Harrell and McKinnon took over and gave the Wildcats a lead of 9-7. Villanova led the rest of the set, with Temple being unable to retake the lead.

Villanova ended up winning the set, 25-21, and the game in straight sets, 3-0.

“Everyone was playing well,” McKinnon said. “Passing was good, the defense was on point, and we were not letting many balls hit the ground. The main goal for this game was to play our game, stay focused, and take care of business.”

Steinbach saw room for improvement following the hard-earned win over the City Six opponent.

“I don’t think we played our best volleyball,” said Steinbach. “But this is an in-town rival so it’s a great win to get any time, no matter how it comes out and we played well enough to make a run in each set which is all we needed.”

Next week, women’s volleyball looks to continue its winning streak as conference play begins on Friday, Sept. 27. Villanova will host Georgetown at home in Jake Nevin Fieldhouse at 7 p.m.

Campbell McKinnon: Volleyball’s Rookie Star

Genna Cottingham Staff Writer

With only a month of collegiate play under her belt, freshman middle blocker Campbell McKinnon has already made a name for herself at Villanova.

McKinnon is one of the Wildcats’ rookie leaders on the court, averaging 3.23 points and 2.45 kills per set.

McKinnon is from Collierville, TN, a suburb of Memphis. McKinnon’s passion for volleyball stemmed from her mom, Andrea, and led her 1,000 miles away from her hometown to Villanova.

“My mom played volleyball in high school,” McKinnon said. “It wasn’t too serious for her, but she did enjoy it. She still wanted to introduce me to the sport, and it just grew from there.”

Like most kids, McKinnon was placed in a variety of extracur-

ricular activities from a young age. In elementary school, McKinnon played soccer, and did ballet and gymnastics. She soon realized soccer was not for her, ballet was too boring, and that she did not have the flexibility for gymnastics.

McKinnon then started playing volleyball for her local league team in third grade. By sixth grade, McKinnon decided to join a club team called Memphis Volleyball Academy.

According to the MVA website, the club team is “a competitive volleyball club in the Mid-South area that offers consistent high-quality training in an intense and disciplined atmosphere from experienced coaches since 2010.”

McKinnon loved the her teammates and coaches so much at MVA that she ended up staying there for six years, until the end of high school.

“I started playing there in the sixth grade and then I never left,”

McKinnon said. “I found a good coach and he helped me develop my skills early on, so I’m really grateful for the club and how far it’s gotten me.”

The South is not well-known for its competitive volleyball. As a result, McKinnon had to travel constantly to compete in middle school and high school. Throughout the years, McKinnon traveled to Texas, Georgia and the Midwest. The furthest destination Memphis Volleyball Academy brought her to was Las Vegas for the 2021 USA Volleyball national competition, where her team placed second in the country.

McKinnon’s high school achievements do not end there. McKinnon earned the district’s Regular Season Most Valuable Player Award two years in a row, and took home Collierville High’s Most Valuable Player Award for two consecutive years as well. By her junior year of high school, she was named the 2022 Volleyball Player of the Year by both The Commercial Appeal and Daily Memphian. Also in 2022, McKinnon led Collierville to the Tennessee Class AAA State Championship where it lost to Cleveland High School. McKinnon finished her high school career with a grand total of 1,464 kills and 363 blocks.

“When I got district and region honors as MVP, I thought it was cool just to be able to play at a high-level in our region and then make it to states,” McKinnon said. “Also, when we got runner up at nationals is definitely one of the highlights of my high school career.”

NCAA rules state that college coaches and prospective players

cannot be in contact until their junior year. Once McKinnon officially gained junior status in June of 2022, she started reaching out to programs across the country. Villanova was not among the schools she reached out to.

Later that summer, McKinnon was playing in nationals when a Villanova coach noticed her.

Although her team placed fifth that year, the Villanova coaches reached out to her because they were intrigued with her skill level and agility on the court. A few months later, McKinnon announced that she had committed to Villanova. McKinnon recalls picking Villanova for its “strong athletic community and rigorous academics.”

Adjusting to the fast pace of Division I college volleyball, McKinnon is slowly finding her groove on the court. McKinnon attributes much of her development to her helpful upperclassmen teammates as well as the support of the Villanova coaching staff.

After only officially being a Wildcat for a few months now, McKinnon’s favorite team memory thus far was the team trip to Europe in June. She also says her favorite home victory this season was the game against Princeton on Sept. 7, where the Wildcats beat the Tigers in three straight sets.

McKinnon has been a starter for every game this season thus far. She is looking forward to conference play starting on Friday against Georgetown.

The game will kick off Family Weekend at Villanova in Jake Nevin Field House at 7 p.m.

Villanova (7–4) won contests over Temple and Rhode Island in straight sets to win this weekend’s Wildcat Challenge. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Hailing from Collierville, TN, Campbell McKinnon has become a freshman leader. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Women’s Soccer Starts Conference Play, Tying Seton Hall

James Haupt Staff Writer

Big East play kicked off for Villanova women’s soccer, who took on Seton Hall on Sunday, Sep. 22. The match resulted in a scoreless tie, leaving both teams eager for more.

With this being the Wildcats’ second tie in back-to-back games, they now stand at a 3-4-2 overall record and are placed sixth in the early conference rankings.

Villanova controlled most of the offense, evidenced by its eight total shots to Seton Hall’s one. Unfortunately, only three shots were on goal, and none could find the back of the net.

All of Villanova’s shots on goal came from senior midfielder Susanna Soderman, as there wasn’t much production elsewhere. Sophomore midfielder Gabby Koluch had three shots of her own, but none were on target.

The Wildcat defense was on lock-down throughout the whole game, led by sophomore Ire Omotayo and freshman Meredith Palmer, a young defensive duo who played the entire game.

One success of the defense was fending off Seton Hall’s senior midfielder Natalie Tavana.

“We held the preseason conference Attacking Player of the Year [Tavana] to one shot that wasn’t really threatening,” head coach Samar Azem said. “It was great seeing how strong we were defensively.”

A solid defense is nothing new for the Villanova women’s soccer team, which has only allowed two or more goals twice this season. One instance was the 2-0 loss on Sep. 1 to FSU, the eighth-ranked team in the nation.

“For us, it’s the whole team including our forwards who defend,” Azem said. “The whole team is so bought into working together defensively. It’s really exciting to see. But it also comes down to the last unit which has been so strong. When the six players in front make a mistake they have four players and a goalie behind them.”

Villanova allowed a lone shot on target from Seton Hall, which

junior USC transfer goalie Hannah Dickinson was able to block. Dickinson has had a terrific season so far in net, standing behind one of the best defenses in the Big East.

“[Dickinson] has been great, she’s a difference-maker,” said Coach Azem. “She’s very smart and organized, the team respects her. She’s very good in the air. You have to hit a really good shot or get a little lucky to beat her.”

However, the offensive production is something the team hopes to improve on. The Wildcats have only scored three goals in the last seven games (and just one in their last five), in which they have gone 2-3-2. This streak is coming off a huge 4-0

win that Villanova put up against Temple in their second game of the year. The Wildcats are hoping to snap out of the scoring drought immediately, as they will soon be facing a wave of tough conference teams.

“Right now we are competing and feel that we can compete with [the rest of the Big East],” Azem said. “Our next challenge is focusing on dominating them.”

Villanova women’s soccer will head to Nebraska to take on its next Big East opponent, Creighton, on Thursday, Sep. 26. Creighton is also coming off its first Big East match, in which it lost 1-0 to Georgetown. Both teams are hungry for their first conference win of the year.

Cross Country Prepares for Promising 2024 Season

Dylan Johnson Staff Writer

Villanova cross country is nearing the start of the 2024 season. The team has already participated in two invitationals, and both the men and women have promising seasons ahead.

Five men ran at the Temple Owl XC Invitational on Friday, Aug. 30. Sophomore CJ Sullivan finished in 19:25.2 to place second. Sophomore Nick Sullivan was close behind and finished third (19:26.2). Sophomore Brian Theobald ran a time of 19:44.0. Sophomore Kai Mitchell-Reiss ran a 19:56.7. Pomona graduate transfer Bennett Booth-Genthe debuted as a Wildcat with a time of 19:58.6.

Columbia graduate transfer Nikki Vanasse finished first (17:03.8) in her Villanova debut at the Main Line Invitational on Friday, Sept. 20. The top-five finishers at the event were all Villanova runners. Senior Margaret Carroll finished second in 17:39.0. Sophomore Tilly O’Connor came in third in 17:42.4. Freshman Rosie Shay made her collegiate debut, finishing fourth in 17:43.8. Senior Emily Robinson was fifth (17:55.6).

Historically, Villanova cross country has had terrific seasons aided by Olympic talent. The women have won the cross country national championship nine times, winning six straight championships from 1989 to 1994. Most recently the women won back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 under the direction of current head coach Gina Procaccio. The women have

dominated the Big East, recently winning back-to-back conference titles in 2017 and 2018.

The men have also had their share of national championships and Big East titles. Villanova won four men’s national championships, the last being in 1970. Under current head coach Marcus O’Sullivan, a Villanova record breaker, the men have won six Big East titles. The most recent title was in 2022.

This season, both men and women return talented runners.

The women will be led by a strong one-two of seniors Sadie Sigfstead and Emma McGill. The two paced the women in the Big East championship last season. Many athletes are returning from last year, as last season had such a young group of runners. Senior Margaret Carroll and sophomore Tilly O’Connor also will highlight the women’s top five. All of Villanova’s top-five runners are returning this season. Vanasse impressed at the Main Line Invitational, winning the race by a margin of over 30 seconds.

Last season the women finished third at the Big East Championships and fifth at regionals. Sigstead was the only Villanova representation at national championships for the women last year, finishing 71st (20:28.7 - 6000 meters).

The women are scheduled to participate in the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational (Sept. 27 at 12 p.m.) and the Princeton Fall Classic (Oct. 8).

Postseason meets include the Big East Championships on Nov. 1 in Leesburg, Virginia. National

competition will start on Nov. 15 at Mid-Atlantic Regionals in University Park, Pennsylvania. The season will conclude on Nov. 23 at national championships in Madison, Wisconsin, looking to punch a team ticket after falling short last year.

The men will be led by the one-two of fifth-year Liam Murphy and junior Marco Langon. Murphy broke a plethora of school records last season as a senior. Last season, he was named to First-Team All Big East and set a personal best in the 10,000 meters (29:05.5) at the Mid-Atlantic Regionals, where he won the individual title. Murphy also took first at the Big East Championships. Langon improved consistency across cross-country, indoor and outdoor seasons. He was named to the First-Team All Big East alongside

Murphy and set multiple personal bests. Returning with the duo are senior Devon Comber, senior Seán Donoghue and sixth-year Jamie Moreland. The veterans are backed by a solid sophomore class, consisting of Bailey Habler, Kai Mitchell-Reiss, CJ Sullivan, Nick Sullivan and more.

The men travel to the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27. Following Nuttycombe, Villanova will participate in the Paul Short Run on Oct. 5 hosted by Lehigh. The regular season will end at the Princeton Fall Classic on Oct. 18. Postseason meets kick off on Nov. 1 with the Big East Championship in Leesburg, Virginia. Lastly, the national meets include the Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 15 and national championships on Nov. 23.

While Villanova had eight shots to Seton Hall’s one, neither team was able to find the back of the net on Sunday. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Fifth-year Liam Murphy looks to continue his success after a record-breaking 2023 season. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics

Photos: Hoops Mania 2024

Villanova held its annual Hoops Mania event on Friday, Sept. 20. Graham Sukup/Villanovan Photography

Graduate transfer guard Bronagh Power-Cassidy participated in the three-point contest. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Men’s head coach Kyle Neptune is entering his third year at the helm. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Villanova men’s basketball will open its season by hosting Lafayette on Nov. 4 Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Women’s head coach Denise Dillon is entering her fifth season coaching the ‘Cats. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

The men’s team participated in a dunk contest. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography

Musical Artist Gunna perfomed a concert to close out the event. Graham Sukup/Villanovan Photography

The Crossword

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Villanova Dining Services

Hispanic Heritage Dinner

Wednesday, September 25

Chimichurri Flank Steak

Yellow Rice

Fried Plantains

Berenjenas Fritas

Donahue - Dougherty - St. Mary’s

Assorted Tostadas

Espinacas con Garbanzos

Birria Tacos

Paella Station