WEDNESDAY APRIL 2, 2025 www.villanovan.com @thevillanovan VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 8
STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916
Athletes Break Limits on the Track
NOVAdance 2025: No Hero Rides Alone In a Record-Breaking Day
Genna Cottingham Staff Writer
After a combined total of six school records, one would think two runners had reached their limit. Not Liam Murphy and Marco Langon. On Thursday, March 27, the fifth-year Villanova runner Murphy broke the NCAA record in the 1500 meter race at Raleigh Relays. Murphy’s time of 3:33.02 put him first among 207 athletes and set both a personal best and Villanova school record in the process. “We weren’t even sure it was a collegiate record at the time because nobody announced it at the meet,” head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. Junior Marco Langon overpowered Virginia’s Gary Martin in the last lap to achieve second place. Nearly four-tenths of a second behind Murphy, Langon’s time of 3:33.38 helped him run the second-fastest NCAA time in the 1500 meters. Langon was able to accomplish a new lifetime best as well, because being in the collegiate record books was not enough for him. “We were just excited for finishing one-two and getting the result we wanted,” Murphy said. “And the time was just a bonus because after we went into the race, we weren’t really focused on the time.” The previous NCAA record was 3:33.74, set by Alabama’s Eliuf Kipsang in 2022. After last week’s race in Raleigh, Kipsang was knocked down to the No. 3 spot in the Division I record books. “We didn’t know until maybe 30 minutes before the race how fast it was going to be paced,” Langon said. “We thought it was just going to be a slower race, where it’s just going to wait around and
NOVAdance 2025 surpassed its goal of raising $700,000 for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. Courtesy of NOVAdance Media Team
Emma Cote Co-News Editor Finn Courtney Co-News Editor
On Saturday, March 29, members of the Villanova community, families and individuals from far and wide packed under the roof of Jake Nevin for one goal: raise money FTK (for the kids) and raise money for families fighting the brave fight against childhood cancer. The cheers from Jake Nevin this past weekend as the seniors of NOVAdance committee revealed the NOVAdance total were
loud enough to be heard coast-to-coast. The 12th annual NOVAdance saw the organization successfully meet its goal of raising $700,000 and in fact surpass it, with a final total of $708,269.10 raised for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. That final total means that there has been more than a $100,000 increase since last year’s day-of, which raised just over $600,000, a feat the committee has been working towards for the past year. Finally, after a year of social media promotion, countless fundraising emails, merch sales and many hours spent tabling
and canning, NOVAdance - from members of Morale Committee (MoCo) to Sidekicks to Recruitment to HR to its two Co Executive Directors - successfully passed their fundraising goal for a truly great cause. “[We’ve] been rallying around the goal of $700,000 since the beginning of the school year, and to see all other members of the NOVAdance community rally in a similar way all the way up until 10 p.m. on the day of the Dance Marathon was the greatest portrayal of community I have seen at Villanova,” MoCo Chair Sam Blume said. “Villano-
va students are go-getters just as much outside of the classroom as within it, and for each of us to develop an understanding of a cause like pediatric cancer, some of us having direct relationships with the subject and some of us not, was a really beautiful way of showing how we can use our power to make a difference for those who can’t.” Year after year, the B+ Foundation assists families in need of financial assistance while a child battles pediatric cancer, pairing B+ Heroes (pediatric cancer patients) with different Greek life and student organizations
Willard Was Worth The Wait Dylan Johnson
Co-Sports Editor
that has the potential to prove it was worth the wait. “My family and I would like to thank the Villanova Board of Trust-
ees, President Father Peter Donohue and Eric Roedl for this incredible opportunity,” Willard said in the school’s press release. “Villa-
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nova Basketball has a deep tradition of excellence and a culture that is second to none in college basketball. We are thrilled to be a part of it and join the Villanova community.” Before Willard agreed to come to Villanova, he verbally agreed to a contract extension with Maryland that would have made him one of the top 10 highest-paid coaches in college basketball, according to CBS’ Jon Rothstein.
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This past Sunday, March 30, marked the beginning of a new chapter for Villanova basketball. Villanova University announced in a release that Kevin Willard would be the next head men’s basketball coach. The decision was made after a two-week search to replace former head coach Kyle Neptune. But it was a decision
SGA Shares Statement On Recent Federal Polcies p. 3
Kids Helping Kids Fight Cancer: Joe McDonough Reflects on NOVAdance p. 4
Villanova Named Top Fulbright Producer p. 5
Unitas, Vertias, Caritas—Values or Suggestions? p. 8
Sof Says: Students Give Suggestions For New Coach p. 9
Housing Registration Is Too Stressful p. 11
Love Run 2025: Wildcat Takeover p. 12
VillaVogue: Transcend Into New Styles Of Spring p. 15
Technology And Screentime At Villanova p. 16
Villanova Student Ryan Allen Finishes First In The Love Run p. 15
Coach KevinWillard will lead the Wildcats for the 2025-26 season. Courtesy of Villanova Athletics
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