WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2025 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 5
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
Funding Freeze Creates Uncertainty
Reel Talk: Black History Month
Nicole Liddicoat Co-Editor-In-Chief
In the early weeks of his presidency, President Donald Trump and his administration issued numerous executive orders (EO), many of which could affect Villanova University’s students and faculty. The EOs have placed universities at the center of political debates surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). These policies have had sweeping effects on academic research, funding and scholarship. On Jan. 27, the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a vague memorandum. It announced a pause on all federal funding to conduct an investigation until the administration “complete[d] a comprehensive analysis of all of their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects and activities,” that may be affected by the administration’s EOs. The memo was rescinded, and a federal judge issued a temporary pause on the implementation just two days later. However, confusion remains. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made a post to X on Jan. 29, stating that rescinding the document was “NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the court’s injunction. The President’s EO’s on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented.” The unabridged impacts of the OMB memo and compliance with the EOs are still largely unknown, creating a time of uncertainty for faculty. A Villanova faculty Continued on p. 2
Ava DuVernay’s documentary 13th explores the effects of the 13th Amendment on African Americans. Graydon Paul/Villanovan Photography
Kate Koslow Staff Writer
“The United States is home to 5% of the world’s population, but 25% of the world’s prisoners. Think about that.”President Barack Obama Released in 2016, director Ava DuVernay’s documentary 13th investigates the effects of the 13th Amendment on Black Americans today. In 1865, the U.S. founding fathers passed a piece of legislation to abolish slavery in the United States, but with six short words, a loophole was created that caused decades of systemic racism,
still strongly prominent today. 13th is a powerful reminder of the deep-rooted inequalities within America’s institutions, arguing that mass incarceration is not just a flawed system but a deliberate continuation of slavery, all weaponized to oppress Black Americans today. The 13th Amendment states, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” In short, slavery is illegal unless one is con-
victed of a crime. So, in an attempt for the South to save its economy after the Civil War, this loophole was exploited, beginning a long-lasting practice of arresting Black Americans with little-to-no cause, such as loitering or vagrancy. 13th explores how this ultimately ignited the targeting of Black Americans within the media. With movies such as Birth of a Nation, Black people were depicted as violent, animalistic creatures, dangers to society, all who must be arrested and controlled. Due to these aggressive portrayals, a time of terror reaped the United States, with lynchings,
beatings and violent attacks against Black Americans becoming normalized and even celebrated. As public lynchings and open violence became less socially acceptable, the country looked towards legal means to continue systemic racism, thus leading to the Jim Crow era. To rebel against these injustices, the Civil Rights Movement used peaceful protest. Still, these activists became labeled as criminals. However, Black protesters flipped the narrative, using “criminalization” to their advantage. Rather than feeling ashamed for being arrested, it became a noble act
Behind the “Banana Operation” Owen Hewitt Former Sports Editor
Villanova senior Aidan Murphy is in the final hour of a plan that started in December. He is standing in section 113 at the Finneran Pavilion, surrounded by about 35 of his friends, who are all watching No. 9 St. John’s warm up before its Feb. 12 matchup with a flagging Villanova team. The group of seniors, who are all sporting banana costumes, have 45 minutes to
wait before the tip-off of the last Villanova men’s basketball home game in the Finneran Pavilion of their time on campus. As they stood in front
Continued on p. 10
The bananas gained campus-wide attention as photos spread on social media. Erick Quezada/Villanovan Photography
“We just started chirping the St. John’s guys,” Murphy said. It worked. Villanova claimed its first Quadrant 1 victory of the season, 7371, outlasting the nationally-ranked Red Storm and snapping their 10-game win streak. The bananas gained campus-wide notoriety as photos of them spread on social media and Fox Sports 1 continually featured them on the game’s broadcast. Questions about the Continued on p. 17
of the frosted glass panels of the Davis Courtside Club, a question arose: “What the hell are we going to do for the next 45 minutes?”
Prepping for NOVAdance p. 2
History: Millard on Being First Black Student Body President p. 3
Sof Says: Midsemester Catchup p. 7
Beat for Good p. 8
‘Nova Meets Nola: From One Culture to Another p. 10
Black History Month: Amari Rebel and the Movement p. 11
Staying Close From Afar p. 13
VSMT Presents “Heather’s: The Musical” p. 15
Wildcat Watch: Kobryn Throws Two Complete Shutouts p. 17
Preview: T&F Prepares for Big East Championships p. 18