WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2023 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 115 | ISSUE 2
Falvey Acquires Senatorial Papers
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
BSU Hosts Flag Raising for Black History Month
Lauren Armstrong
Staff Writer
There is never an hour of the day where you will not find students studying and doing work in Villanova’s Falvey Library. This semester, all the work has paid off due to a huge gift from former Senator Patrick J. Toomey, the Pennsylvania Republican senator from 2011-2023, who donated his senatorial papers for the use of Villanova students. Toomey grew up in Rhode Island and attended La Salle Academy in Providence. After graduating high school as valedictorian, he attended Harvard University. During his time post-graduation, he worked at a variety of jobs, from working on Wall Street to opening Rookie’s Restaurant in Allentown, PA with his younger brothers. From there, he was elected onto the Allentown Government Study Commission, and then decided to run for the House of Representatives in 1998. After serving three terms, he chose to run for Senate, and after losing his first election, he won in 2011 and served 12 years for the state of Pennsylvania. Toomey is well recognized across the United States as being one of the seven Republicans to vote towards convicting Trump of incitement of the insurrection during the second impeachment trial. Toomey has espoused a variety of controversial legislative beliefs, such as a ban on same-sex marriage and not believing in women’s rights to access abortions. He does, however, believe in needing stricter background checks in order to purchase guns. Toomey was a well-respected and well-liked political leader in the state of Pennsylvania and it is an Continued on p. 2
The BLM flag hanging in Connelly Center. It was raised by the BSU to kick off Black History Month. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
Jadyn Ramos Staff Writer
On Wednesday February 1st, 2023, an event led by the Black Student Union was held at the Connelly Center on Villanova University’s campus. The ceremony was held to kick off Black History Month on campus, and celebrate the raising of the BLM flag in the Connelly Center. There was a large group of students, faculty and community members there to support the movement and the ceremony. The Black Student Union issued the following statement about the event: “On February 1, 2023, the Black Student Union at
Villanova University made history within the Villanova community. We made a dream into a reality by fighting for a simple but major way to be seen. With the unveiling of the Black Lives Matter banner, our hope is for all individuals who are a part of the Black community at Villanova, understand that they are heard, seen, loved, and supported.We also want the Black community to know that they will always have an organization who will work tirelessly to ensure that Villanova never falls short in those areas, while exemplifying our university’s core values: unitas, caritas, and veritas. But, more importantly we want those within the Black com-
munity at Villanova to know that you are important and your life does matter. We look forward to the future of Villanova University and its Black community.” This was an important milestone for the University to show members of the Black community on campus that they are in a safe place, and will be seen and heard. At the ceremony, the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dr. Crystal Lucky, gave a speech and led a prayer to the entire community prior to unveiling the Black Lives Matter Banner. Dr. Lucky began, “For these kinds of events, the prayer I would want to pray would
be one that sounds more poetic, but today I just want to pray,” she said. “We are asking the Lord to continue to give us the ability to show love, to show wisdom, to show solidarity because Lord you are the God of justice and you are the God of peace. It is time for this flag to be included with the other flags in the Connelly Center to acknowledge that Black lives do matter. We are dedicating this flag not to offend anyone, but to declare that we matter, that we matter to you [Lord], that we matter in this world, that we matter on this campus.” The flag now hangs in Connelly Center, one of the most popular places on campus.
ing community in Memphis. On January 7th, Nichols was pulled over for a traffic stop just minutes away from his mom’s house. The
encounter then turned violent as officers beat, tased and kicked Nichols until he was hospitalized. Three days later, on
January 10th, Nichols died, sparking horror, outrage and cries for justice from people across the nation. While the news about Nichols was shocking for students on campus, others expressed ongoing frustration with a broken system. “When I first heard the news about Tyre Nichols, I was shocked, but also, not really,” Villanova sophomore Nick Jubilee said. “I feel like over the past few years I’ve just grown so desenContinued on p. 2
Students React to Tyre Nichols’ Death Hannah Sweeney
Co-News Editor
This week, Villanova students and people all over the country mourn the death of Tyre Nichols, who was brutally killed by police officers in Memphis, Tennessee. Nichols, who was 29 at the time of his death, was a son, brother, friend and father of a four-year-old boy. Nichols worked for FedEx, enjoyed photography and was closely involved with the skateboard-
Members of BSU at the BSU flag raising. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
University Members React to 50 Years of Roe v Wade p. 3
University Community Dialogue About ChatGPT p. 4
Here is Your Sign to Go Abroad p. 5
The Perils of Persistent Parking Problems p. 6
Wildcats and Eagles Should Cohabitate More Often p. 7
Asian Students Association Hosts Expo Showcase p. 9
February Horoscopes p. 11
Brunson, Wright To Be Honored At DePaul Game p. 12
Women’s Water Polo Earns First Win of Season p. 14
Women’s Lacrosse Prepares for 2023 Season p. 15