The Villanovan | Volume 119, Issue 9: November 19, 2025

Becoming What We Are Not Yet

Alex Roth Staff Writer

We’re often told that college is where we’ll “find ourselves,” yet few pause to ask what that really means. Is the goal of “finding ourselves” even attainable?

The phrase has been repeated countless times, and it’s almost lost meaning, echoing through graduation speeches and freshman orientations alike. Yet perhaps we’ve misunderstood this phrase from the start. Maybe college isn’t about “finding ourselves” at all, but about listening to a quiet call that’s been resounding within us all along.

The term vocation traces back to the Latin vocare, meaning “to call.” A vocation, therefore, isn’t something we find externally or create anew, but something we discover from within. It’s a voice that has accompanied us along our deepest struggles and greatest triumphs, and will continue to whisper until our final breath.

In this light, college becomes a place of discovery, rather than invention. In other words, we don’t spend four years with our noses buried in books just to emerge confused about who we are. Rather, we learn, wrestle and grow. Not to write our lives from scratch, but to discern and embrace the direction in which we have been quietly steered.

And yet, this transformative process is rarely neat. There are plenty of late nights filled with doubt, long days when we feel as if we are walking in circles, and moments when everything seems to contradict itself. But these moments matter. They shape us just as much as our triumphs do. College isn’t merely a straight line toward certainty, it’s a winding path full of hurdles that teach us the virtues of patience, hu-

Women’s Cross Country Team Headed To NCAA National Championships

Megan Dussault Staff Writer

On Friday, Nov. 14, Villanova’s women’s cross country team punched its ticket to the NCAA National Championships for the first time since 2021. The Wildcats finished fourth in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bethlehem, PA.

The men’s team placed third overall, with sophomore Charlie Moore and junior CJ Sullivan qualifying individually for the NCAA National Championships this upcoming weekend.

“The whole goal of

Heart Of The Matter: What are You Grateful For? p. 9

the regional meet was to run well enough to qualify for the NCAA championship,” women’s head coach Gina Procaccio said. “We knew we just had to go out there and be solid, and we would probably get an at-large bid. And so that’s what they did.”

The women scored 78 total points, finishing just two points behind third-place Penn State. The top four teams, West Virginia (56), Georgetown (62), Penn State (76), Villanova (78), were separated by 22 points. For the first time since 2018, Villanova had four of its runners receive all-region honors and recorded the lowest score

for a fourth-place team in 15 years.

Junior Tilly O’Connor placed fifth in a field of 215 runners, achieving her fourth-straight sub-20minute finish with a time of 19:41.8, marking the seventh-fastest 6K time in women’s program history.

“[O’Connor] has made an incredible improvement this year,” Procaccio said. “I think she was pretty fired up about not being in the top seven last year… and now she’s been our number one runner the last three meets.”

The other scoring runners included graduate student Nikki Vanasse (19:49.2) in 11th, grad -

uate student Margaret Carroll (19:55.6) in 15th and senior Amelia Arrieta (20:03.0) in 18th. All three showed major improvement from their past times, moving up a combined 80 places from last year’s competition.

“This is a total team effort,” Procaccio said. “We all kind of focus on what we need to do to move this team through the ranks and get to the national level. That was the goal the whole way.”

Rounding out the scoring five was sophomore Rosie Shay in 29th with a time of 20:27.6.

Freshman Zoe Mosher (20:47.6) and

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Walking In Their Shoes Recap

Emma Cote Co-News Editor

On Monday, Nov. 18, Community Outreach of Villanova (COV) and RUBIAL hosted Walking In Their Shoes (WITS). The interactive event drew more than 70 students to simulate various government systems and how they impact the various sites members of both groups serve in Philadelphia.

This Week In Politics: Government Shutdown Ends p. 4

Voices Of Villanova: Chef Wiseley p. 10

Participants were given a scenario card upon entry and then had to make difficult choices at the various stations within the room. Income, housing, immigration and food were the subjects of these tables, and participants had to choose what services or necessities they would spend their fixed budget on.

To symbolize the real-life difficulties and sacrifices these decisions cause, participants received

Turn Finals Week Into Finals Weeks p. 5

Volleyball Beats UConn 3-2, Clinches Spot In BET p. 12

“challenge tickets.” Several students voiced that they thought they were making a choice in their best interest, and were shocked to earn several challenge tickets or have to pay large sums of their allotted budget. Following the actual walk-through of the event, participants gathered with leaders of certain service sites to reflect on their own feelings and what connections they were able to draw to the real-world.

Thanksgiving Break Is Not A Break p. 6

Wildcat Watch: Taylor Lewis’ Hard Work Is Paying Off p. 13

WITS Chair junior Rose Mazzeo serves as the Social Justice Education Chair for RUBIAL, and helped to coordinate the event. Mazzo emphasized the vitality of this reflection portion.

“We are really emphasizing the reflection part,” Mazzeo said. “Hearing if students felt upset or frustrated? What connections can students make? We really hope students get something out of it.”

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Recapping The Fall Wildcat Thrift p. 8

Men’s Swimming & Diving Defeats Rider p. 14

VOL. 119 | ISS. 9

BROOKE

PUBLIC SAFETY BLOTTER

Criminal Mischief

November 14, SULLIVAN HALL

Intentional damage to an exit sign was reported. The value of damaged property is unknown.

Harassment / Domestic Violence

November 15, WHOLE CAMPUS

SOPHIE

A staff member in the Title IX Office made a third person report on behalf of a student who reported she was the victim of domestic violence to include strangulation between August 2023 and January of 2025. The identity of the perpetrator was known to the victim at the time of the incident, which occured in various locations on campus.

Liquor Underage

November 15, KATHERINE HALL.

A male resident student, under 21, was evaluated by Public Safety

CORRECTIONS

and VEMS for alcohol intoxication and released.

Liquor Underage

November 14, FARLEY HALL. A male resident student, under 21, was evaluated for alcohol intoxication and transported to Bryn Mawr Hospital.

Liquor Underage November 16, DELUREY HALL. A female resident student, under 21, was evaluated by Public Safety 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.

Walking In Their Shoes Recap

Emma Cote Co-News Editor

Continued from p.1

John William Green is the Executive Director of the Augustinian Defenders of the Rights of the Poor (ADROP), which has several different sites at which Villanovan serves.

Green helped to facilitate the reflection part of the event, and spoke about the value of discussion with the students.

“There was a theme in many of the things that students shared which centered on not having any good solution,” Green said. “Having the approach to the activity like ‘I’m gonna figure out how to make it work.’ And the realization that nothing is actually going to work, and the reality that real life people have to make these choices.”

Emma Smith is the Engagement Coordinator at Martha’s Community Farm, the most visited food pantry in Montgomery County, and echoed several of these sentiments.

“I guess I think it illustrates that these things are not happening in a vacuum,” Smith said. “You get through one hurdle, and at the very next step, you’re being knocked back another two steps.”

Co-WITS Chair Charlie Perricelli is a COV Core Team Member,

and spoke with The Villanovan on how COV and Rubial went about choosing perspectives and scenarios students had to navigate.

“We tried to choose issues that related to our service sites and that our volunteers could relate with, and also issues that are pressing in social justice that are affecting members of the community,” Perricelli said.

When asked about how the coordinators avoided generalizing groups of people, Perricelli spoke to time dedicated to making sure that the scenarios were not biased or conveyed stereotypes.

“We spent a lot of time going through our scenarios,” Perricelli said. “[We are] trying to weed out our own stereotypes and our own generalizations.”

Both Mazzeo and Perricelli spoke to the importance of understanding these perspectives displayed in WITS. Mazzeo specifically highlighted the benefit of breaking out of the Villanova bubble.

Perricelli emphasized the value of students traveling to the various service sites.

“The point of service is to benefit the community first,” Perricelli said. “But of course it’s valuable to us that the students get the most out of what they’re doing, which is why we run these events.”

The Crisis Of Housing

Darya Radzevich Staff Writer

The Albert Lepage Center hosted an event uncovering the costs of housing in America. The webinar featured voices with expertise in history, urban studies and sociology. The key speakers were Nancy Kwak, Carl Gerhenson and Rae Baker. Among the three speakers, a common theme of housing as a necessity came up. This theme was that housing should be a commodity rather than a tool for investment.

“Certainly one of the big issues is the way that housing has been transformed from a housing need into housing as investment, and that’s a really powerful transformation that I think shapes our current housing crisis,” Kwak said.

Rae Baker echoed this sentiment.

“Often when we are in housing justice spaces amongst activists, people talk about the right to housing, which is something we’re still actively fighting for,” Baker said.

The initial point raised by the panel was that there is a housing crisis, not only in the sense of affordability, but in the context of a necessity to achieve justice and freedom. Furthermore, Carl Gershenson provides data to support claims of an ongoing housing crisis. First, Gershenson explained that there is a lot of wealth in real estate in the United States and there is a little number of foreclosures. Initially, this makes it seem that housing is not a problem for many Americans.

Nonetheless, only current homeowners are immune from this problem.

“A majority of households are locked out of buying a home,” Gershenson said.

He further revealed that the median income needed to buy a home is $120,000, while the median income is $60,000. This data revealed why Americans are choosing to stay renters for longer. However, Gershenson provides data that shows renter incomes have increased by about 5%,

while rent has increased by 23%.

“That is obviously going to be a painful situation for all sorts of renters,” Gershenson said.

Hence, renters are also struggling, further hindering their ability to own homes. Nancy Kwak further expands on this data to say that the housing crisis today is a process of decisions to create profit from housing.

“The homeownership success story is a white story in this country,” Kwak said.

Intragenerational wealth impacts the rate of homeownership, which minority communities struggle to obtain.

“The ones that were addressed were the ones that ended up really supporting and building the white middle classes,” Kwak said in regards to historic policies that addressed housing crises.

After analyzing the crisis of housing, the panel moved to discuss possibly housing policy going forward.

A common consensus was that housing reforms have to be taken at the federal level where larger amounts of money can be dispersed into subsidized housing production.

Kwak described possible government strategies to address problems such as rental assistance, increasing housing supply through low-cost debt for builders, down payment assistance and providing more safety nets. Nevertheless, it is important to organize in local governments to become active citizens and recognize problems in our own communities.

The webinar ultimately revealed that housing is a crisis that America has been facing for decades and it consists of underlying problems of wealth division and race. Active participation within local governments can propel government officials to act and result in policy to reach minorities who have been overlooked in the past.

Largely, the webinar revealed that housing is a crisis in this country and increasing costs of living are only hindering opportunities to become homeowners for many young Americans.

Pilgrims Of Hope: Augustine, Cabrini And The Journey Of The Migrant

Emily Hauck Staff Writer

On Thursday, Nov. 13, supported by the Office of Mission and Ministry, Villanovans from both the Augustinian Institute and Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration gathered together in the commons of the Charles Widger School of Law to celebrate St. Augustine’s birthday and Mother Cabrini’s Feast Day.

The panel, composed of speakers from a range of knowledge pertaining to migration, centered its discussion around what the Augustinian tradition and Mother Cabrini can teach individuals about immigration.

The event began with a warm welcome from moderator Colleen Mitchell, Associate Director of Outreach for the Augustinian Institute at Villanova University, and was followed by opening remarks from the School of Law’s Dean, Mark C. Alexander, J.D., and Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA).

Congresswoman Scanlon addressed the political tension surrounding immigration, especially nowadays, and contrasted today’s environment with the message Mother Cabrini preached. Scanlon described the climate as “an active attempt to scare people for political ends,” describing the situation as “unwarranted.”

“It is important that we push

Emma Cote Co-News Editor

back against this conflation and demonization of immigrants,” Scanlon said. “As well as the tactics that are being used.”

Affirming the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of their immigration status, Scanlon transitioned to the importance of constitutionality.

“[The Trump] administration is pushing the idea that if you are an immigrant you don’t have due process rights,” Scanlon said. “Due process is important for all of us, if anyone doesn’t have it, then all of us don’t have it.”

Scanlon concluded her statement by expressing how “heartening [it was] to see the merger between the faith and legal communities” in addressing the issue of immigration.

Handing the microphone over to Dr. Sean Hannan, Assistant Professor in the Humanities Department at MacEwan University, Hannan began his remarks with a brief synopsis of the roots of the word migration.

The Latin word Peregrinatio can be translated as pilgrimage or migration. Hannan says that when “[he] makes the decision to translate peregrination as immigration or migrancy, [he] [tries] to shift the discussion away from migrancy itself and towards what St. Augustine would say about migrants.”

Hannan mentioned that St. Augustine likely grappled with the same questions we face today.

“St. Augustine believed that we are all migrants in search of a homeland, but it’s more than a metaphor,” Hannan said. “We should be helping our neighbors from abroad.”

Building on Hannan’s discussion of St. Augustine, Dr. Joseph Lennon, CLAS Associate Dean, Emily C. Riley Director of Irish Studies at Villanova University, continued by explaining that St. Augustine’s church was “a church for immigrants by immigrants.”

Lennon discussed Irish roots of immigration in Philadelphia, comparing the hostile and discriminatory environment of 19th century Philly with the current political climate. Lennon included a variety of political cartoons, which displayed the period’s dehumanizing rhetoric directed towards Irish immigrants. Despite the discrimination that toiled society at the time, Lennon concluded with an emphasis on the welcoming spirits of the Augustinians, encouraging audience members to live the same way.

Sister Christine Marie Baltas, MSC Campus Ministry, Cabrini University, followed Lennon. Her speech was in the form of an engaging and vividly-detailed story of Mother Cabrini’s life from her early girlhood to her final years.

Baltas emphasized Mother Cabrini’s impact on immigrant communities far-and-wide, making special note of the work she did for Italian migrants in America, which included

establishing a number of hospitals and orphanages to provide healthcare and social services to the needy.

The panel concluded with remarks from Professor Michele R. Pistone Professor of Law, Director of the Mother Cabrini Institute on Immigration at Villanova University.

Pistone described how St. Augustine exemplified Veritas, Pope Leo XIV embodied Unitas, and Mother Cabrini was a walking definition of Caritas. She also excitedly shared news about the new and upcoming Cabrini Institute, which recently hosted its first “Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home” conference of about 250 people with a special appearance from Pope Leo XIV in Rome, Italy.

Pistone talked about the four areas of action and impact which the Institute hopes to employ as a means of serving immigrants and addressing the topic of migration: teaching, research, advocacy and service.

By focusing on and developing the mentioned pillars, Pistone and the Cabrini Institute believe that they will successfully and impactfully help others better understand immigration and, in turn, foster a more empathetic environment.

The panel concluded with a brief question-and-answer session between audience members and panelists, and a light reception in celebration of both St. Augustine’s birthday and Mother Cabrini’s feast day.

SGA Hosts Father Peter Town Hall

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Villanova’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted Father Peter’s Town Hall. In a packed Driscoll Lecture room, University President Rev. Peter M. Donahue, O.S.A, Ph.D. discussed developments at Cabrini, the swatting incident and other pressing concerns for the student body.

Student Body President Aleko Zeppos, Vice President Sidney Mbah and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vice President McKenzie Ohene chaired the Town Hall. The event consisted of an hour-long interview portion promptly followed by the three fielding questions from students.

The interview questions had been submitted by students and community members prior to the Town Hall. The event kicked off with concerns regarding Cabrini and Rosemont, and students were ready to hear about the developments of the newly acquired campuses.

The first question concerned how the University intends to prioritize community and maintenance of campus culture given the new space.

“Well, first of all, I think people need to think of these two new places as two new spaces for the campus,” Father Peter said. “We are still one campus, one community.”

Father Peter went on to discuss the different locations that exist right now, referencing West Campus and South Campus.

Specifically, he mentioned that the distance between the University and Rosemont is identical to that of Ithan Gate and Good Counsel Hall.

“I like to think of them as an extension of Villanova University,” Father Peter said. “It’s the same community.”

Following the discussion on physical distance, Father Peter emphasized the consistency of the shuttle system that will be in place. Additionally, he highlighted that many people will constantly be on Cabrini given the various academic programs that are being moved to the campus.

One concerned student shared with the Town Hall that despite the number of students living there, he still feels as though the separate space will cause a disruption to the community.

Father Peter said that students already live in various dormitories and housing situations, and reemphasized the fact that the University will be making use of this space to better Villanova as a whole.

The swatting incident that occurred during Orientation was also a pressing matter at the Town Hall, as several students are still frightened and looking for answers. The question concerned gun violence on campuses and regaining trust throughout the country.

“What we experienced was disruptive, it was disservicing, it was frightening and it wasn’t real,” Father Peter said. “This whole thing, as far as we know right now, the whole experience that happened occurred at 12 different schools, all in a matter of 24

hours.”

Additionally, Father Peter said that the focus was on the law school because it was in session, and that the FBI and local police officers determined it was a frightening swatting call, but not a real gun-related threat.

While questions fielded by the audience largely concerned these two matters, others were about personal stories from Father Peter and the community culture of the University as a whole.

The Town Hall also offered the possibility of securing priority housing, which brought out several interested students.

Junior Chloe Monsanto received priority housing and spoke with The Villanovan about both the Town Hall, as well as this reward.

“Father Peter’s town hall event was such a great experience,” Monsanto said, “I had never attended until this year, and I wish

I had gone to previous ones since Father Peter is a great speaker and gave a lot of great information about Villanova.”

Monsanto expressed her surprise that she had actually received the housing, and the process of picking a winner.

“I provided my name to the SGA officers at the front of Driscoll, not expecting my name to be picked at all since there were so many people who wanted priority housing,” Monsanto said. “After three winners were selected, Father Peter insisted on SGA spinning one more time. Somehow, it landed on me as the fourth winner. I literally jumped for joy and screamed out loud in Driscoll.”

Other students emphasized their appreciation for the chance to vocalize their questions and concerns directly to the University President and their anticipation for future similar events.

This Week In Politics: Government Shutdown Ends

Zoe Garrett Political Columnist

After 43 days defined by rigid partisan gridlock which has sparked tense national debate, the government shutdown ended late last Wednesday night.

Stretching from Oct. 1 until Nov. 12, the shutdown now stands as the longest of its kind in U.S. history.

Government shutdowns are first prompted when Congress fails to pass budgetary legislation to fund certain federal operations for the fiscal year.

This most recent failure by the legislature to do so was what prompted this fall’s government shutdown.

To reopen operations, Republicans and Democrats in Congress ultimately needed to reach an agreement, particularly regarding the key issue of health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reported NPR. While Democrats pushed to include provisions to extend these subsidies in the budget, Republicans rejected this request.

The result of both parties’ refusal to compromise was a six-week political standoff which generated a host of negative consequences for millions of Americans, including those federal workers who went without pay and the recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s (SNAP) benefits who received none or only some of the

“It’s

funds.

While Republicans boast a 53-seat majority in the 100-member Senate, a supermajority vote, that is, one necessitating the support of 60 senators, was required to pass this type of budgetary legislation.

In order to pass the bill in the Senate and send it for approval to the House of Representatives, then, the votes of additional Senators outside of the GOP were needed.

Ultimately, eight Senators broke off from the Democratic caucus and voted with Republicans in favor of the budget, reported AP. These include Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Fetterman (D-PA).

Senator Shaheen, a senior Democrat hailing from New Hampshire, was one of the lawmakers spearheading discussions of compromise. Balancing her focus on extending ACA subsidies with a perceived necessity to reopen the federal government, Shaheen ultimately agreed to a promise made by Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) for the chamber to hold a vote on the subsidies next month, reported AP

The bill will fund the government until Jan. 30, 2026. Funding for SNAP, including the program which provides benefits for women, infants and children (WIC), the Department of Veterans Affairs and Congress will be instated through September of

2026, reported NPR

The legislation also includes attempts to reverse firings of and distribute backpay for the federal workers who remained in limbo for the past month and a half.

In a news conference following the vote, Shaheen expressed the difficulty involved in brokering the compromise.

“This was the only deal on the table,” she said. “It was our best chance to reopen the government and immediately begin negotiations to extend the ACA tax credits that tens of millions of Americans rely on to keep costs down.”

Without this type of hurdle for Republican Representatives to jump over, the legislation easily passed through the House and was signed in the Oval Office on Wednesday night, and the decision of eight Senators who caucus with Democrats to support it, has stoked controversy. Specifically, critics identify Democrats’ aye votes as a battle lost and as concessions made to President Donald Trump’s Republican Party.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) chastised the rogue eight Senators in the party’s caucus, reported The New York Times.

“We cannot enable this kind of cruelty with our cowardice,” she said. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) voiced similar dissatisfaction with the decision.“To my mind, this was a very, very bad vote,” he said.

Meanwhile, proponents of the bill celebrated its passage. Sena-

tor Angus King (I-ME) labeled it “a victory” and as “an opportunity” to continue ACA-related negotiations.

Representative Tom Cole (OK-04), Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, highlighted the end of the shutdown’s negative impacts as justification for the bill.

“History reminds us that shutdowns never change the outcome, only the cost paid by the American people,” he said, reported The New York Times. “Over the last 43 days, the facts did not shift, the votes required did not shift and the path forward did not change.”

The legislation by no means instantaneously smooths over the harsh ramifications of the six-week shutdown. Rather, the passage of the budget will likely have gradual effects: federal workers await their back pay, recipients of SNAP benefits anticipate the restoration of these dollars and back-ups in air travel are likely to linger.

The shutdown’s record length and controversial ending both highlight the intense political polarization among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Such gridlock underscores the increasing difficulty Congress faces in carrying out even its most essential responsibilities.

As Congress returns to its regular business under the short-term deal, the coming months will provide insight into legislators’ abilities to overcome partisan divisions in order to avoid a similar situation at the end of January.

On Us, ‘Nova” Holds Sexual Misconduct Process Panel

Caroline Etter Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, “It’s On Us, ‘Nova” held a panel discussion on the sexual misconduct process in Driscoll Hall 132.

Panelists included Title IX Case Manager Shannon Barnett, Title IX Investigator Kim Kearney and Asst. Dean of Students for Conduct Resolution Sydney Scheiner.

The discussion was facilitated by Title IX Coordinator Ryan Rost and POWER Community Advocate, senior Lauren Armstrong.

The panel covered the sexual misconduct reporting and response processes, the sexual misconduct policy and formal versus informal resolutions.

The speakers made it clear that every student coming to the office has power over what they choose to do.

“No one is forced to go through any process,” Barnett said.

The speakers began the discussion by explaining the first steps a student can take after they tell someone about an experience of sexual misconduct.

They will meet with someone from the Title IX office and be provided with possible options and resources.

There are resources such as counseling and medical care, and supportive measures available such as academic accommodations and

transportation services. These can be provided without any evidence or investigation.

The panel then described what would happen if a student chooses to file a formal complaint, beginning an investigation.

“It’s an emotional and heavy process,” Kearney said.

If a student wishes to file a complaint, they would be expected to provide evidence, such as text messages and call logs.

The student can stop this process at any time, unless the university deems that there is an ongoing threat that jeopardizes the safety of our campus or greater community.

The panel discussed what a formal investigation hearing would look like. They often happen virtually and the case information is reviewed by a trained hearing decision maker.

“Nobody is ever going to be forced to answer anything,” Scheiner said.

Students can also pursue an informal resolution process, where both parties would participate in what was described as “shuttle diplomacy” with the Title IX office.

Additionally, if a student does not want anyone to be punished formally, they can obtain a no contact directive that cannot be violated.

At the end, the panel took audience questions, such as what happens if one chooses to go straight to authorities, a timeline of the process, and how being a

school with Division 1 athletes impacts sexual misconduct reporting.

If a student goes straight to authorities regarding a serious crime that could lead to a charge, then the Dean of Students has the right to assess it and determine if a student will be removed from The University.

The timing of the process depends on what a person chooses to do.

Sexual misconduct cases are prioritized in the Title IX office, and the office only reports to police if a person wants them to.

As for being a Division I university, “that doesn’t excuse any behavior,” Barnett said.

The panelists highlighted how the process is fair and equitable to all students.

The panel ended with a graphic showing available resources including emergency response resources, confidential support, as well as student initiatives on campus. They also provided printed resource guides.

“I think that this is definitely something they should do more often and I feel like it should be more broadcasted to everyone,” freshman Mya Foley said.

Other students emphasized their appreciation for the resources mentioned during the panel, which they were unaware of prior to the panel.

Students can follow “It’s On Us, ‘Nova” on Instagram, @itsonusnova, for information on available resources and future events.

OPINION Turn Finals Week Into Finals Weeks

Associate EIC

Without fail, each semester my professors seem to repeat the same phrase as we approach the end: “I am doing you a favor.”

Usually, this “favor” involves assigning the equivalent of a final exam, project or essay prior to the designated finals week. Instead of sitting for exams between Dec. 13 and 19, I find myself submitting presentations and major essays as early as Dec. 1, creating unnecessary stress and leaving little time to adequately prepare.

When finals begin expanding into the entire month of December, they inevitably bleed into Thanksgiving Break. For students who haven’t been home since August, that time off becomes a study period, rather than a chance to rest. Many end up spending their break preparing for assessments they will face immediately upon returning to campus.

The workload in college is already demanding, especially within a competitive campus involvement culture such as Villanova. Students with final presentations or essays due the week after Thanksgiving are often juggling multiple other assignments, club responsibilities and additional exams. This combination produces unhealthy stress levels and lack of sleep during a time that should be structured for students to put their best foot forward.

A practical solution is simple: provide more dedicated time for finals. If professors are already spreading major assessments across the entire month of December, the University should expand the finals schedule by

Alex Roth Staff Writer

Continued from p.1

an additional week. This would give students more focused time to prepare for these assessments without the additional pressure of regular coursework and extracurricular commitments.

Using the week after Thanksgiving as a transition period into finals would allow exams to run across the next two weeks, giving stu-

dents the time they need to prepare thoroughly and perform to their full potential while also not adding an additional week onto the academic schedule.

Additionally, it would make it easier, and far more likely, for exams not to be scheduled on the same day, easing that dread of discovering two finals only hours apart. With more days

and times available for professors to choose from, that worry would naturally start to fade.

But the benefits of an additional week for finals doesn’t stop there. As a senior, my capstone project is at the forefront of my mind, but with the way finals week currently is, there are limited opportunities for seniors to schedule their capstone presentations. These projects are the culmination of four years of hard work, and to limit seniors to just one week isn’t just difficult for scheduling purposes, it’s unfair for the amount of work that has been put in.

While this proposal would shorten the academic schedule by a week, reducing the number of class meetings available to learn new material, professors are already using many of these periods for assessments. As a result, the actual time available to teach and cover course content would remain essentially the same.

Another aspect that this proposed scheduling change would include is eliminating the need to alter the days of the week schedule during that final week of classes, where Friday classes meet on Tuesday and Monday classes on Wednesdays. By eliminating this, students will be able to finish learning the ideas that have been taught throughout the semester.

The University would benefit from switching the academic schedule to allot for two weeks dedicated towards final exams. This change would benefit students’ physical and mental health, in addition to ensuring all students are the most prepared and educated before going into their final exams, essays and presentations.

Rethinking “Finding Yourself” In College

-mility and self-understanding.

Every Villanovan, whether in nursing, engineering, business or liberal arts and sciences, shares in this common pursuit. We are all, in some way, on a pilgrimage of becoming. St. Augustine reminds us to “become what we are not yet,” and that is precisely what Villanova calls us to do. This university does not offer mere education. It offers transformation.

The three pillars of Villanova (veritas, unitas, caritas) are not decorative mottos tucked away on a brochure; they are living stages of vocation that we are called to experience. We must seek the truth so that we may know who we are. To pursue unity so that we belong to something greater than ourselves. To love others and share our gifts with all.

When we view our classes, friendships and even our imperfections through this lens, college shifts from self-construction to conversion. Once more, we are not starting from scratch, but trans -

forming from within. The pieces are already present, we must learn to connect them.

Nowadays, we picture vocation as a dramatic “aha moment,” a cloud of purpose revealed through a single internship, a mentor or class that suddenly changes one’s view of everything. Yet, vocation is rarely loud. More often, it develops quietly, pecking as a woodpecker at the rhythms of daily life.

Vocation demands persistence, requiring a constant state of quietening oneself to hear the call that never fails to hum. The voice of vocation appears in the discipline of studies, the patience of group projects, the vulnerability of friendship and the humility of doubt.

Thus, perhaps “finding yourself” isn’t about reaching a final answer, but about learning to dwell within the question. College, then, is not a four-year quest for identity, but a period of contemplation and active listening.

So, the next time someone tells you that you’ll “find yourself” in college, you might smile and reply, “I’m not trying to find myself. I’m learning to listen.”

EDITORIAL BOARD

BROOKE ACKERMAN

Editor-in-Chief

NICOLE LIDDICOAT

Editor-in-Chief

LAUREN ARMSTRONG

Associate Editor-in-Chief

KAILEY FAHY

Opinion Editor

ZOE SCHACK

Opinion Editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS

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.

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.

Thanksgiving Break Is Not A Break

Kaitlin Lawrenson Staff Writer

College students are exhausted. From schoolwork to the freezing cold weather falling upon Villanova, we are all ready for Thanksgiving Break. As fun as college is, just like anything, it can get overwhelming. However, our professors are missing the mark on our need for a few slow classes before finals come around the corner. I have exams upon exams along with dozens of projects and daily assignments. If anything, this is the most busy I have been all semester, but my professors don’t seem to be worried about burning students out. Professors need to be mindful of the work they are giving students in the days leading up to this break before final exams.

This exhaustion isn’t just about being “busy.” It’s about the way responsibilities stack on top of each other with little room for recovery. As students, we jump from early morning classes to group projects, labs, extracurricular commitments, part-time jobs and endless hours of studying. Most of us push ourselves because we care about our education and want to succeed. But it becomes difficult to stay motivated when every day feels like a sprint that never truly ends.

Professors, however, often seem disconnected from this reality. Many are continuing their courses at full speed, assigning lengthy readings, multi-step projects and high-stakes exams, all within the two weeks before Thanksgiving Break. Instead

Juliana Burke Staff Writer

of easing students into a period of rest, these days have become some of the most academically intense of the semester.

For me, this is easily the busiest I have been all year. I have exams stacked upon exams, major projects due within days of each other and daily assignments that don’t let up. It feels as though every professor assumes their class is the only one on my schedule. And while I understand the value of academic rigor, there is a difference between challenging students and overwhelming them.

The burnout we’re experiencing isn’t imaginary. Research consistently shows that student stress peaks in November, often leading to sleep deprivation, increased anxiety and diminished academic performance. When students are mentally drained, they’re not learning, they’re surviving. That’s not the educational environment any of us, including professors, should want.

This is precisely why the days leading up to Thanksgiving Break

should be a time for professors to be mindful, intentional and compassionate with their assignments. A reset before finals is not indulgent or lazy: it’s necessary. A short period of breathing room could help students enter the final stretch with clarity rather than collapse.

“What students need right now isn’t more pressure, it’s acknowledgment,” Michela Marchiano, a sophomore in VSB, said. “We’re trying our best, but when every class piles on major deadlines at the same time, it becomes impossible to keep up in a healthy way. A little compassion from professors in these final weeks wouldn’t lower academic standards. It would simply remind us that our well-being matters just as much as our grades.”

Acknowledging student burnout does not mean lowering academic standards. It means recognizing that learning does not happen in a vacuum. A tired, overwhelmed student cannot meaningfully absorb information, engage with class mate-

rial or perform at their full potential. A rested, supported student can. Professors have more power than they may realize to influence the tone and pacing of this crucial period. Even small acts of consideration make an impact.

While students shoulder the majority of the stress, this is also a moment for the academic community to rethink traditions that no longer serve anyone. The pre-break push may have made sense years ago, but student life has changed. Expectations are higher, workloads are heavier, and the pressure to excel is stronger. Without intentional pacing, these weeks can become unsustainable.

Thanksgiving Break exists for a reason. It offers students a chance to rest, reconnect with family and regain some balance before heading into finals, a notoriously demanding period. But that break loses much of its value if students are so burnt out going into it that they spend half the time recovering rather than rejuvenating. As we push through these last few days, one thing is clear: professors play a key role in shaping whether this season becomes manageable or overwhelming. Recognizing student exhaustion is not a sign of weakness, it is a commitment to education that values learning over excessive pressure.

College is demanding, but it doesn’t have to be defeating. A little mindfulness from professors could make all the difference as students strive not just to make it to break, but through the semester with both their well-being and their motivation intact.

The Case For Political Humility

essential component of democratic political life: the willingness to doubt ourselves.

Although the Nov. 4 elections are behind us, the amplified political discourse is not. As one scrolls through their social media feed, moves throughout campus dining halls and attends class, the conversation is an inescapable one. Although politics has always played a colossal role in the American social scene, it seems as though the discourse is changing, in my opinion, for the worse. In an age where every disagreement feels like a battle between good and evil, humility has become a radical virtue. Our generation has inherited a political culture that prizes absolute confidence in one’s political views above all else (despite the fact that in a majority of cases, these views are inherited from other major individuals within their lives). We are told to “stand firm” in our convictions and to “speak our truths,” but what happens when somewhere in that language of conviction? We lose an

I would be remiss if I failed to point out that political humility does not mean apathy or moral indifference. Political humility cannot be likened to the lazy relativism of “everyone’s opinion is valid, even if it is objectively evil or harmful.” Humility does not mean passivity. It doesn’t mean avoiding moral stances or silencing our convictions for the sake of harmony. It means holding those convictions with a kind of gentleness, knowing they might someday need to be revised. It means defending principles with passion, but never mistaking passion for an inability to err. Rather, political humility is the recognition that no single person, candidate or political party possesses a complete monopoly on truth. The philosopher John Stuart Mill once wrote that even the most widely accepted opinions must be “vigorously and earnestly contested,” lest they decay into dogma. To be humble in politics is not to weaken your beliefs, but to keep them

alive through constant testing and moreover, constant doubt.

However, our modern political discourse rewards the opposite. We have built platforms where outrage travels faster than nuance, where the reward for being “all-in” outweighs the cost of being wrong. The result is a political culture defined less by persuasion than performance, likened to that of rooting for your favorite football team regardless of the lessthan-ideal tactics they utilize to win their game. To disagree today is to threaten someone’s identity, making what should be an objective debate on policy a duel of intrapersonal conflict. Philosopher Hannah Arendt warned that “ideology becomes dangerous when it frees people from the need to think.” Although Arendt wrote about the dangers of candidates with convictions so total that conscience had no space, I would argue it is equally alive within our voting bloc. Arguably, it means more in this space anyways: if we have no evolving conscience, there is no incentive for our political figures to meet us halfway.

At Villanova, where faith and reason are meant to coexist, we are uniquely positioned to resist this impulse. First, we must listen as though the other person has equal potential to be correct, rather than simply conjuring quick replies in hopes of “winning out” over the opposition. Second, we must seek out disagreement deliberately, not avoid it. Last, we must learn to separate our opinions from our personalities, careers, friendships and extracurricular involvements. Being wrong about a policy or a theory does not mean one is wrong in their entirety.

None of this is easy when polarization is ever-intensifying, but we must recognize that humility is what offers us a true path forward. It reminds us that discourse depends not on unanimity, but on ongoing conversation. We must recognize that conviction without humility becomes arrogance. By resisting this, we in turn engage with the rarest kind of strength: the strength to admit we may be wrong, and to keep pursuing what is right in spite of it.

Mock Recruitment Is An Important Step For PNMs

Kaitlin Lawrenson Staff Writer

Off the heels of winter break, women interested in Greek life are called back to campus a week early to take part in the sorority recruitment process. In many ways, students are entering this process completely blind. They have no idea what to expect. Mock recruitment, an event hosted by all sororities in November, gives students the opportunity to have insight into what the recruitment process is like and how to prepare. Mock recruitment is not only an asset, but is necessary for students who are considering entering the Greek life system, as well as useful for the organizations recruiting.

Recruitment is a nerve-wracking process no matter what. From meeting hundreds of women to the decisions made after a few short interactions, this is something no one could properly prepare themselves for. It is truly all about diving headfirst into the week and allowing the system to do its job so you will find the right organization for you. However, it is still nice to have a glimpse into what recruitment will be like, especially as a first-year student experiencing dozens of firsts. Mock recruitment is designed for potential new members to have the opportunity to see a simulation of what the actual process is like. They get to speak to women from different organizations, hear chants, interact and gain their footing in the process.

Mock recruitment is vital for potential new members because it gives them the opportunity to shake off any nervous energy as well as ask questions. It is a lot easier going into the recruitment process when you feel a little familiarized with how things are being run and the women you have interacted with are not complete strangers. Additionally, this gives potential new members

the opportunity to get to know the women in each organization. Five days is a short time to have to determine the organization you want to spend the rest of your Villanova career with. So, this early simulation gives you an idea of what each chapter is like from the things they are passionate about to their interests. There is no need to pigeon-hole yourself with one organization during mock recruitment, the whole point is to just familiarize yourself with the sororities better so you can make a more informed decision come January.

Something that many people don’t realize is how important mock recruitment is for the Greek organizations, as well. We are running a large-scale recruitment process with a lot of moving parts. From decorations to speeches, we have tons of things to prepare for. Specifically, the women who were just recently welcomed into their chapters have never been on the other side of recruitment before. The sororities have to train these women on how to properly evaluate potential new members in an appropriate and respectful way along with how to make them feel comfortable when interacting with us. This seems self-explanatory, but each organization has different priorities and values that they feel define their organization. They want to look for certain things in the women they are recruiting who they feel will fit well with their group of women and their mission.

Women like myself who have never recruited are also given a test-run during mock recruitment. We are able to practice interacting with potential new members, learn the logistics of recruitment and improve ourselves so we can make the recruitment process better for all women involved. We understand how stressful of a time it is for potential new members and by having this opportunity to practice and put in the effort we are able to take our

job as a greek organization more seriously. This practice also makes the newest round of recruiters more comfortable with the process and more confident in the insights they will offer during the deliberation process.

“Mock recruitment is so important for first-year recruiters like myself because we want to do right by not just our chapter but the prospective women,” Faith Malki, a sophomore in Chi Omega, said. “The same way that new members may be worried that they will misspeak, we are worried about the same thing. We want to ask the right questions and help them to determine if our chapter will be the right fit for them. This practice run takes away our nerves and gives our incredible recruitment chair an opportunity to have a test run with us.”

It is true that the recruitment chairs of each chapter work incredibly hard and this is an op -

portunity for them to test out some of their logistics and ideas they have for the recruitment process. In many ways mock recruitment is the dress rehearsal for the real show which is recruitment, and it is so needed. Not all universities offer this opportunity, and students are thankful for Villanova’s Panhellenic Office for allowing all women both already in and prospective members of the organizations to have this experience. Now, mock recruitment is not required and has no stock in the decisions made during recruitment itself. This is simply an opportunity to take away some of the stress that is awaiting us women in January. We all want to do right by one another, help each other find our homes and continue to foster sisterhood within the walls of Villanova. Mock recruitment is something students hope is continued to be practiced each year as it benefits women in the process.

CULTURE

Recapping The Fall Wildcat Thrift

Emma Taylor Staff Writer

Last Friday, Villanovans were invited to peruse tables and bargain for clothes at the Student Sustainability Committee’s (SSC) Fall Semester Wildcat Thrift.

This biannual event has been one of the SSC’s main intitiatives for the last few years, with a dedicated Wildcat Thrift chair overseeing a subgroup of committee members who plan the event.

The array of dresses, sweaters, Villanova merchandise and more was enticing to many students as they walked past the Riley Ellipse between lunch and classes.

There was a lot of anticipation leading up to it, as the event was originally set to be on Halloween but was unfortunately postponed due to inclement weather.

“I was told by one of the vendors to check it out,” freshman Danika Gadient said. “She was selling stuff, and then I decided to stop by because I like the whole idea of thrifting, and there’s not really thrift stores around here that are close by. And everyone [at Villanova] is always dressed so nice, too.”

Fashion culture and standards around dressing vary dramatically depending on where one goes to school, and events like this reflect the attitude and styles of the students on any campus. Anyone was allowed to sign up for a table, which allowed very different styles to be represented. Among the roughly 12 vendors, the selection of clothing ranged from formal and preppy to athleisure wear

and statement pieces.

Groups like Tonight’s Dress, a student-to-student dress rental platform, and sororities had booths, as well as Special Olympics who sold leftover Fall Fest T-shirts to anyone looking to hold onto the spirit of that weekend and a handful of individuals simply looking to clean out their closets.

“I’m flexible [on prices] because I know that college is very expensive, and I just want to get rid of this stuff because I’m not wearing it anymore,” sophomore Soleil Dubois, one of the vendors selling more unique items, said.

The idea of the Wildcat Thrift is to promote sustainable clothing consumption with the goal of creating a semi-closed clothing economy on campus. If students buy from each other, clothing items get a new life and don’t have to be tossed aside or replaced by another brand-new (and likely mass-produced) item.

While the main goals ring true to sustainability incentives, it also has the added benefit of allowing people with differing aesthetics to share and explore other styles for cheaper.

Thrifting in general fosters individuality when it comes to style, letting people pick and choose interesting clothes to add to their closet instead of succumbing to a herd mentality of wanting to get your hands on pieces that everyone else has.

Past stigmas around thrifting have now been drowned out by those excited to sort through donated clothes and hunt for good quality and name brands. As the trend grows, events like the Wildcat Thrift are becoming more well-attended and anticipated.

“I think a lot of people are more open to thrifting recently because they want a vintage look,” Gadient said. “Not everyone wants to wear the same thing.”

Other platforms for exchanging clothes have been gaining popularity as of late. Apps like Depop and Nuuly make buying, selling and renting used clothes easier than ever, and they reflect a growing sentiment in younger generations for getting creative with personal style while being more eco-conscious.

As for the Wildcat Thrift, some students are hopeful that traction grows throughout campus for future events.

“I think they could do a better job of advertising people to come and

sell their stuff,” Gadient added. “I was expecting a lot more people, but I think it’s a good start to make it into something bigger.”

While there was a healthy mix of different styles, clothes for different occasions and a table for inclusive sizing, more tables of clothes to look through might draw a bigger crowd, ultimately working more towards the SSC’s goal with this event.

As we look to the Spring Semester for the next Wildcat Thrift, students are encouraged to reflect on their personal wardrobe and the choices made when purchasing clothes.

We should all remember to do so while staying true to our own unique styles.

Heart Of The Matter: What are You Grateful For?

Cali Carss Co-Culture Editor

In order to maintain the essence of Heart of the Matter, the students who share their hearts with us will remain anonymous.

The holiday season is nearly upon us, and the mid-November anticipation for Thanksgiving brings up one familiar question: what are you grateful for this year?

There are countless answers to this question, but many people will often come up with some combination of family, friends and home. In order to truly get in the holiday spirit, I wanted to know what else is on students’ minds when they are inevitably asked this timeless question.

“I am grateful for my overall health,” one student said. “I am grateful that I am not ill.”

Good health, while usually part of one’s well wishes for everyone else, is all too easy to overlook when it’s one’s own. College students are especially susceptible to overlooking their health in order to prioritize classwork, clubs and social lives. So, acknowledging the good fortune we have in our health is crucial.

The end of the calendar year and the impending end of the semester can bring up feelings of homesickness and nostalgia on campus. However, one student chose to focus her gratitude on her life at Villanova.

“I am grateful to be living on campus with all of my best friends,” she said. “College is a unique time when I am able to live so close to them.”

The experiences that come only with being in college are not to be taken for granted. New friendships, interests and opportunities unfold before all of us, and every one of them has the potential to shift our life experiences.

“I am incredibly grateful for my semester study abroad experience in Ireland,” one student, who is currently abroad, said. “Having the chance to immerse myself in different cultures and travel with my best friends has been a highlight of my college experience and has broadened my perspective in the best way possible.”

Back on campus, many students are also fondly reflecting on the things they are grateful for that they will miss in the future.

“As a senior getting ready to graduate, every day I become

more and more grateful for the true community Villanova has gifted me,” another student shared. “Whether it be my classmates, people in my extracurriculars or my friends, being able to spend time with these people and learn from each of them has grown me into the person I am today and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

These answers reflect a wide range of sentiments, and the unique perspectives of each student emphasize just how much

we all have to be grateful for. And don’t fret, the classic answers did come up, too.

“I’m grateful for my family, my friends and for Villanova, which has brought some of the best people into my life,” one student said.

As we countdown until Thanksgiving, these statements resonate loudly in everyone’s hearts.

Happy holiday season, Villanovans. Tell people that you’re grateful for them.

Musica Nova: The Semesters Bluegrass Concert Finale

Ava DeJong Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Topper Theatre, Villanova students and faculty gathered to enjoy the final concert of the semester in the ACS series Musica Nova, performed by the Magnolia Street String Band. This New Jersey-based acoustic group brought together a lively audience, ranging from faculty members, first-year ACS students and campus musicians, all ready to listen to a rich blend of voices and instruments.

Musica Nova is among the most engaging offerings of the semester’s ACS events, and the final performance for this semester’s series did not fall short. The theme for this year’s series was “Celebrating America’s Two Hundred and Fiftieth Birthday” which offered a broad representation of our country’s cultural legacy and broad-ranging talent.

This past September featured the talent of an early American music group that performed Thomas Arne’s “Alfred,” one of the first operas presented in the American colonies.

The November concert showcased a different facet of this American celebration: the musical genre known as bluegrass.

The performance from the Magnolia Street String Band brought this year’s theme to life in a fresh and spirited way for the

closing concert of the semester. In 2013, the Magnolia Street String Band was founded in Highland Park, New Jersey, where the band sprang from a group of friends. They began playing together on the corner of Magnolia Street and Fourth Street, hence the name. The original members included vocalist and guitarist Sheila Shukla, as well as co-founder Matthew Backes, who later were joined by the mandolin and banjo player Bobby Baxmeyer, instrumentalist Paul Prestopino, bassist Ron Greenstein and fiddle player Gary Oleyar.

Though the Magnolia Street String Band is rooted deeply in traditional bluegrass, the band’s sound is not merely steeped in historical style. The musicians primarily draw upon folk and country influences for its music, while also combining three-part harmonies, strong instrumental performances and a distinctive blend of original songs that resonate with both new listeners and bluegrass purists alike.

Its most recent album, By the Light of the Moon, was released in 2024 and aligns with the traditional influences of nature, work and love that bluegrass tunes draw from often.

Bluegrass music is traditionally shaped by the foundational influence of Scottish and Irish tradition and the Magnolia Street String Band took it all in and made it its own in a great way.

In the Topper Theatre, the band played a set of music ranging from bluegrass originals mixed with its true country and folk twang, all while engaging with the audience through explanations of origins, its evolutions and musical technique.

With holiday breaks just on the horizon, the Magnolia Street String Band allowed the audience a moment not merely to check off another required assignment, but to dive into a unique facet of music and culture that both engaged and satisfied the crowd.

The goals of the ACS concert series were clearly fulfilled,

allowing students to branch out from the ordinary and revel in a new experience of high-quality, diverse cultural experiences.

The Wednesday night concert was more than a musical event. It was a cultural moment. It allowed for students to richly achieve ACS learning goals in an interesting and compelling way. It allowed for Magnolia Street String Band to share its wonderful music, talent and knowledge with the Villanova community. It demonstrated again Villanova University’s commitment to bringing vibrant, engaging and meaningful events to campus.

The Room Where It Happens: Shutdown Lifted

Hudson Zivic Staff Writer

The phrase “history repeats itself” is widely known and often used for various reasons.

It highlights recurring patterns in human behavior, societal trends and historic or political events.

That’s where Hamilton: An American Musical comes in. The comparison for this analysis: is history really repeating itself?

By examining a quote from the musical alongside a contemporary political story, we can explore whether the ideals, conflicts and ambitions that shaped the early republic are echoing in current events, or if what appears familiar is simply history’s rhyming, not its repetition.

Three weeks ago, we compared how the government shutdown reflected the congressional warning in, “You don’t have the votes.” With the shutdown now lifted, a new parallel emerges in Burr’s line: “Diametric’ly opposed, foes / They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were / Previously closed.” This shift shows that while opposition remains a central force in politics, compromise can still emerge, bridging divides and moving governance forward.

After 43 days, the federal government has reopened. Congress passed a compromise spending measure late last week, ending what became the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The compromise funding

measure extends government operations through Jan. 30, 2026, maintaining most departments at their current funding levels.

Three full-year appropriations bills made the cut for the Department of Agriculture, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and the Legislative Branch. Federal workers who had been furloughed or ordered to work without pay are guaranteed retroactive pay and job reductions issued during the shutdown will be reversed, with a freeze on new cuts through January. SNAP benefits and nutrition programs were also protected, ensuring that Americans who rely on food assistance will continue receiving support. While healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act were not directly extended, leadership from both parties agreed to

a future Senate vote to address the issue, leaving the matter unresolved but on the legislative calendar.

The lyric’s first phrase, “Diametric’ly opposed, foes,” was evident in the weeks of deadlock leading up to the resolution.

Lawmakers were deeply divided on priorities, with Democrats pressing to extend healthcare subsidies and Republicans seeking to fund the government without policy concessions.

Tensions were high and votes failed 14 times before compromise was finally reached. Yet, “They emerge with a compromise, having opened doors that were previously closed” reflects the ability of moderates from both sides to bridge the divide to produce a deal that, while temporary, allowed the government to resume operations and restored

some measure of stability.

The reopening of the government immediately relieved federal employees, small businesses and contractors who had been affected by furloughs and delayed payments.

National parks, agencies like the EPA and NASA and essential services resumed normal operations. But economists and policymakers warn that the financial and operational impacts of the shutdown will linger for months. Recovery will require agencies to restart projects, contractors to rehire staff and families to regain lost income.

The resolution illustrates a principle central to Hamilton: governing a democracy requires negotiation and the willingness to compromise, even when opposing sides appear irreconcilably divided. Burr’s lyric reminds us that opposition is not the end of the story.

From the tension between ideologies, a temporary but necessary compromise emerged.

Whether this compromise becomes a lasting solution or just a stopgap depends on upcoming legislative actions, specifically about healthcare subsidies, an issue that remains unresolved.

While the government has reopened, the episode emphasizes that political conflict is an ongoing part of American governance. And while the shutdown may have ended, the underlying divisions are not gone. As Burr’s lyric reflects, opposition exists alongside the potential for compromise, and history, while not repeating exactly, continues to rhyme.

Voices of Villanova: Chef Wiseley

Aidan Davies Staff Writer

With 85% of the student body living on campus, Villanova’s wide array of dining options are near and dear to the hearts of many. Hundreds of chefs, cooks and dining service staff members work day-in and day-out to serve reliable, healthy and convenient meals to the Villanova community.

Even the smallest kitchens are known to be stressful, chaotic environments. Just serving 50 tables a night requires near-perfect execution from every cook, waiter, buser and dishwasher. Now, imagine what it would look like to serve thousands of students each and every day. The Villanova Dining Services staff work with grace and celerity to handle such a monumental task, and Executive Chef of Residential Dining Christopher Wiseley plays a key role in preparing and managing each team.

Wiseley grew up just a few minutes from Villanova in the Drexel Hill area. It was during his high school years growing up in Delaware County that Wiseley first found his love for the food industry.

“I was 12, and I got my first job washing dishes in a kitchen for the Knights of Columbus,” Wiseley said. “They had a little restaurant and catering business. I worked there all the way through high school, and I did every job: washing pots and pans, cooking, bartending, waiting tables. I just always felt at ease and at home in the kitchen.”

After high school, Wiseley graduated from Johnson & Wales University, originally with no intent of pursuing a career in hospitality.

“I tried not to be in the kitchen for a while, but it kind of pulled me back in,” Wiseley said.

Wiseley’s career truly started back at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott. It was there that he honed his skills, supervising a kitchen that served a 300-seat restaurant, as well as room service for more than 400 rooms. After his time at the Marriott, Wiseley sought a new opportunity at the Drexelbrook.

“The Drexelbrook fostered my cooking,” Wiseley said. “I worked under a chef who went to the [Culinary Institute of America] and learned their points of view and really developed as a cook. Then I left there and came to Villanova.”

For the past 20 years, Wiseley has worked at Villanova, first as Chef Manager in the Connelly Center before stepping into his current role as the Executive Chef of Residential Dining.

“The executive chef role…it’s more planning and strategic, making sure that the chefs in the building have everything to succeed,” Wiseley said.

Often, kitchen workers will tell horror stories about the stresses of working on the line as a cook. But for many, the rush of hundreds of orders coming in, handling hot pans and working against the clock is what the job is all about.

“When you’re in it and you’re doing it, and you’re working on a line,

you are trying to do everything you can to not be working on a line… but when you’re away from it, you miss it,” Wiseley said.

In coming to Villanova, Wiseley found something that he had been searching for ever since he started washing dishes for the Knights of Columbus. He found a community.

“I was always trying to get that same feeling I had when I was in high school and I worked,” Wiseley said. “Everybody in the kitchen knew each other, we were friends. I think Villanova gave me that sense of home where I wanted to be. I enjoy working with all the people that work here. They work hard. [There are] days where they don’t have to come in, but they come in and want to help. They’re community here.”

Outside of running from location to location trying to manage the dining halls or Connelly Center, Wiseley takes time to enjoy the simple

things in life, such as the beauty of campus or a perfectly-made pizza.

“I’m out running around a lot, so usually I like to be outside, walking around and seeing everybody,” Wiseley said.

And when it comes to pizza, his favorite food, Wiseley finds immense value in the nuances of sauce-to-cheese ratios and perfectly balanced dough recipes.

“It’s very hard to find good pizza,” Wiseley said. “Everybody has their little tricks of what they do for the dough. We do it every Friday in our house, we make our dough, find the right ratio of cheese to sauce.”

Like so many of us, Wiseley found a new home at Villanova. In the University’s Dining Services, he found the camaraderie that had such a profound effect on him in his early life. And anyone who has worked the line knows that it’s those friendships that make it worthwhile.

Letters From Lauren: Thankful For You

Lauren Armstrong Associate EIC

Dear friends near and far,

Each year of college, you have taught me a lot: how to be more empathetic, how to be a better version of myself and how to be a better friend. This holiday season, I am thankful for you all. You have given me a lot to be grateful for, and to celebrate as we enter the season of giving, love and friendship.

So, what better way to celebrate with friends and loved ones this holiday season than through reminding them how thankful you are for them. While you could do this in a traditional Friendsgiving way with Thanksgiving food and “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” playing in the background, there are many ways to remind those important to you how thankful you truly are for them.

A Letter

While some may call it old fashioned, a letter is a timeless way to remind others how grateful you are of them. Take five to 10 minutes to write out your favorite memories with this person, alongside what lessons they have taught you and why you appreciate them for it. Either deliver it by hand or send it out in the mail for a personalized reminder of your friendship and love.

A Shared Playlist

For all the music lovers out there, one of the most personal gifts someone can give is a playlist of songs that remind them of you. Whether it is songs you love to sing together, one that has their name in it or one that carries the message of an inside joke between the two of you, this is the perfect way to say “I’m thinking of you,” even if you do not have the words to say it yourself.

A Small Gift

Now, I am not suggesting that you go out and break the

bank, but if you come across a small gift that reminds you of someone or have the creative skills to make something yourself, it can make a real difference. These gestures do not need to be expensive to matter. A simple thoughtful gift can help your friends and loved ones feel seen and appreciated. Sometimes the smallest surprises end up having the biggest impact.

Exchanging Books

Similar to sharing playlists, but perfect for the readers in your group, exchanging books you have

loved is a thoughtful way to share a piece of yourself with others. When you give someone a story that means something to you, you are inviting them into the worlds, voices and characters that helped shape you. It gives your friends a chance to connect with you on a deeper level by seeing what moved, inspired or comforted you.

Watch A Show Together

Especially for those relationships with distance between them, picking a show to watch together is a great way to ensure you always have something to talk about and dissect together. With shows like “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” or “Dancing With The Stars” releasing new seasons, now is the perfect time to pick one that interests you both and talk about your favorite characters, scenes and moments from the shows.

There are countless ways to remind those in your life how grateful you are for them, including my personal favorite: a phone call. Taking a few minutes out of your day as you walk to class or home from the gym to call someone in your life, catch up with them and hear their voice is a gift and exchange of time that cannot be beat.

So, spend some time this holiday season reminding those in your life what you are thankful for, and how they contributed to that.

With love always, Lauren

Remembering & Renewing: Stories About The HIV Field

Christopher Brown Staff Writer

“Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, my only understanding of HIV was what I saw on TV,” someone once said before getting that diagnosis. “As a young person, I thought that’d never be me.”

Last Tuesday, Nov. 11, students gathered in the Communication Department Studio, to witness “Remembering & Renewing Stories About Working In the Field of HIV,” the latest production created by Heidi Rose, Ph.D., from Villanova’s Communication Department. This production shared the voices of HIV providers, clients and community advocates. Undergraduate and graduate students came together to put on a mesmerizing show that moved audiences with its messaging.

According to Rose, this show came about when Christie Lyn Constanza, a former student and now good friend of hers, asked if Rose would be interested in developing a performance for an upcoming conference being held by the Association for Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). The conference is held in various cities, with Philadelphia being the latest location.

Lyn and a fellow nurse practitioner connected Rose to practitioners she could interview to get their stories about treating HIV clients. She then conducted interviews via Zoom with those practitioners from mid-August to early September. The students helped her with transcribing, analyzing and developing the script.

“As my students and I began transcribing interviews and putting the script together, I was surprised that the students knew little of the history of HIV/AIDS and was surprised that HIV doesn’t play much of a part in nursing or medical school education,” Rose said about the production process for the show.

The team behind the performance first demonstrated its skills at the ANAC conference. Rose is proud of how the team brought the stories of those interviewed to so many students on campus, especially nursing and biology students.

Rose and the students in her Performance Ethnography class worked together to identify themes of stigma, empathy and hope when they were creating the script. The students ran their lines during class and held additional practice sessions on Tuesday and Sunday evenings. Each student used verbatim theatre to learn the mannerisms and voice of an interviewee so that they could portray their stories respectively with as much accuracy as possible.

“It was definitely a challenge to get the whole ensemble together, because some of them were grad students who had other obligations, but we all pulled our weight, and the final product was an amazing performance that left a lasting impact on all of us,” senior Paige Hammer said about the production process.

“Performing ‘Remembering and Renewing: A Celebration of Life’ at the ANAC conference and the Black Box Theater was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had during my time at Villanova,” Hammer said. “I was so proud to be

a part of something that resonated with so many people.”

The performance was extremely direct when describing the extent to which HIV clients and providers have suffered. The “On Stigma” segment showcased the various stigmas that HIV clients have been subjected to, such as HIV is a sign of sexual promiscuity, HIV is transmitted through casual contact, and HIV only affects people of specific identities. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have been the victims of slurs and discrimination due to this kind of stigma, especially since being a queer person was harmfully stereotyped as a sign of promiscuity for centuries.

Stigma persists even to this day, despite research combating it and the rise of effective medication. With recent government cuts to research and healthcare, thousands of people across the Earth will be put through agonizing pain as a result. With that

in mind, the team was determined to put on a show that would educate Villanovans on the tribulations falling upon an uncountable number of people in the worldwide community.

Zoe Garrett, a senior and one of the performers, said that being able to embody the interviewees was a unique way of helping her understand their perspectives as providers. She described achieving a greater understanding and appreciation for the medical field she did not have before.

“Even if students did not know much about the disease or what it is like to work in this medical field, as I did not before preparing for this performance, I hope students appreciated the crucial roles that empathy, kindness and support played for the individuals we interviewed,” Garrett said.

Hopefully, students will strive to embody these qualities when interacting with the world.

SPORTS

Volleyball Beats UConn 3-2, Clinches Spot In BET

Sammie McKee Staff Writer

Last weekend, Villanova women’s volleyball clinched a postseason berth in the Big East Tournament with back-to-back home wins at Jake Nevin Fieldhouse.

The Wildcats closed regular-season play with victories over the University of Connecticut (19-9, 8-8 Big East) on Friday, Nov. 14, and Providence (12-7, 3-13 Big East) on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The weekend sweep earned the Wildcats (20-7, 11-5 Big East) their third consecutive appearance in the Big East Tournament. However, for the 2025 season, the pool of teams from the conference in contention for tournament play shrank from six teams to four.

“The level of this conference keeps on rising, and I think that goes to show how this team keeps rising,” junior outside hitter Abby Harrell said. “Everyone is so bought into our mentality of getting better and better, and it’s exciting that when the bar is raised, everyone is ready to meet it.”

The Wildcats finished third in the conference and ended the season with their best record since its 2019 campaign, when they finished 22-9 and 13-5 in the Big East.

Headed into the weekend, the Wildcats knew that they needed to win one of their two matches to finish in the top four.

Friday’s match against

UConn (23-25, 14-25, 25-17, 27-25, 15-10) got off to a shaky start after the Huskies won the first two sets.

UConn senior outside hitter Emma Werkmeister proved herself a challenge for the Wildcats, leading the Huskies with 15 kills.

The Wildcats took to the locker room to regroup after the second set. Once they returned to the court for the third set, the team regained its rhythm, winning the third set, 25-17.

“We don’t normally go to the locker room between sets, but after we tanked in the second, we really wanted to reset,” Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach said. “So, we went back in and said, ‘Hey, let’s take a breath, refocus and recenter.’ They went back out

there, and I don’t know if it was any magic, but they did a great job of exactly that, and played composed for the rest of the game.”

After Villanova secured the third set, UConn crept up the scoreboard in the fourth frame, tying it at 25. As both teams searched for the set point, Villanova found itself leading, 26-25. Sophomore defensive specialist Lola Buck-Taylor delivered critical back-to-back digs, helping the Wildcats secure a 27-25 victory in the fourth set.

“My teammate Marly [Smith] had done her absolute best at battling us through that fourth set, and in that moment I knew that I couldn’t let her efforts go to waste when it was my turn,” Buck-Taylor said. “When I saw the ball come

over the net, the only thing I wanted to do was get it up, so one of my teammates could put the ball down, and that’s exactly what happened. Taylor ripped it, and it was the perfect ending to that set.”

Winning the fourth set of the game mathematically earned Villanova a berth to the Big East Tournament.

In the final set of the game, Villanova won, 15-10, defeating the Huskies in a 3-2 reverse sweep.

Wildcats fans rejoiced across the packed fieldhouse, with the Villanova football team rushing down to the court in support.

On Saturday, Villanova carried its momentum from Friday’s game into a match against Providence. The Wildcats swept the Friars to close out their 2025 regular season (25-17, 25-19, 25-20) .

Harrell finished the regular season leading the Wildcats in points (457.5 total) and kills (399 total), marking her personal best in each benchmark throughout her career as a Wildcat.

This Saturday, the Wildcats will travel to Milwaukee, WI, to compete in the Big East Tournament.

The semifinals are set for Saturday, Nov. 22. Villanova will play No. 2 seed Xavier at 3:30 p.m. ET. No. 1 seed Creighton will face off against No. 4 seed Marquette at 1 p.m. ET. The winners of the two matches will meet on Sunday, Nov. 23, in the championship match at 3 p.m. ET.

Women’s XC & Select Men Punch Ticket To Nationals

Megan Dussault Staff Writer

Continued from p.1

freshman Sophia McInnes (21:30.3) finished 36th and 69th, respectively, both placing in the top third of competitors.

“There’s only one week between the two races,” Procaccio said. “This week is about rest and getting recovered, and then getting out there next week and seeing where we belong.”

The men finished with 84 total points for their ninth consecutive top-four finish at regionals. The men came in third place, 21 points behind runner-up Georgetown (63). Four of the team’s scoring runners received all-region honors.

“We had a rocky start,” men’s head coach Marcus O’Sullivan said. “They were going one way for the first half of the season, and they rallied… and turned it around and came back in the right direction at the end of the season.”

Two of Villanova’s scoring runners placed in the top 10. Moore came in seventh of 201 competitors with a time of 29:37.9, moving to ninth on Villanova’s alltime 10K finishes list.

Sullivan (29:52.3) finished 10th, moving up three places from his performance last year at region-

als.

“I think for [Sullivan] to make the nationals, that’s a big jump forward for him,” O’Sullivan said. “For [Moore], individually, he had a really good meet for himself.”

Following closely behind was junior Bailey Habler (30:09.8) in 12th, sophomore Ben Thom-

as (30:30.3) in 25th and graduate student Devon Comber (30:34.4) in 30th. Villanova saw just a 55.5-second split between its five scoring runners. Sophomore Jack Fenlon (31:01.5) and junior Nick Sullivan (31:10.8) placed 46th and 53rd, respectively.

“I think there were some

really positive things to take away from Friday,” O’Sullivan said. “We had two, almost three guys qualify individually, so I think we have a good future with this group.”

The women’s team, along with Moore and Sullivan, will now prepare for the NCAA Championships, held in Madison, WI, on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Wildcat Watch: Taylor Lewis’ Hard Work Is Paying Off

Genna Cottingham Sports Columnist

Villanova volleyball needed to win two sets against University of Connecticut last Friday night to earn a spot in the Big East Tournament. After two sets, Villanova was down, 2-0, and mathematically, any chances of a tournament had shrunk.

Frustrated, the Wildcats made a rare trip to the locker room after the second set in an attempt to regain focus.

Sophomore Taylor Lewis was one of the Wildcats who emerged from the locker room to take the court for the third set with Villanova’s tournament chances hanging in the balance.

Lewis, a 6’1” outside hitter from Indianapolis, led Villanova to a come-from-behind win. VU took three consecutive sets against UConn (23-25, 14-25, 25-17, 27-25, 1510) to clinch a Big East Tournament appearance and the victory. Lewis was named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll for her performance.

“[Against UConn] being down, 2-0, and grinding out a third set,” Lewis said. “It was just awesome to grind out that five-set win, and then today, you know, it was a tough one, but we got it done.”

Lewis reached a career-high of 17 kills against the Huskies. Just 18 hours later, Villanova returned to the court to defeat Providence in a 3-0 clean sweep. Lewis led the

team in hitting percentage (47.8%) against the Friars.

“It felt like the team all our hard work, all the days we spent in Nevin kind of accumulated at this moment,” Lewis said. “[The team has] great chemistry off the court, on the court. I feel like we all bond and mesh together very well, which, from what I’ve heard, has not always been the case in the past.”

Last fall, Lewis concluded her rookie season with 144 kills and a spot on the Big East All-Academic Team. Her intellect also earned her the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the entirety of her freshman year.

“[Lewis] has been a huge reason why we’re having success,” Villanova head coach Josh Steinbach said. “I think the main growth has been the way she’s able to handle [the ball] when things don’t go well. She’s much calmer, cool [and] collected, and handles the bumps in the road much better.”

Prior to Villanova, Lewis attended Cathedral High School, where she won four sectional titles. Outside of high school, Lewis competed on multiple club volleyball teams. She was a member of the Boiler Juniors and the Academy Volleyball programs based in Indianapolis.

“I was blessed to be on very good club teams,” Lewis said. “I started to kind of take [volleyball] a little more seriously later into middle school, seventh and eighth, where I was like, alright, let’s try out

for the high school team, and then let’s see if I can play in college.”

Starting in fifth grade, Lewis played for Munciana Volleyball in Yorktown, IN. She spent the majority of her middle school and high school years playing for that club team.

Upon deep reflection on the future of her athletic and academic career, Lewis realized what she valued the most. Not only did she imagine herself in a successful volleyball program, but aspired to play at a school with a rich culture.

Lewis did not want school and volleyball to be her whole life. She hoped for a balanced social life where she could have fun with friends as well.

“Especially with my visit at Villanova, it was kind of the only place where I really thought I envisioned myself here,” Lewis said. “I see a lot of people that I feel are similar to me, I can see myself going here and see myself succeeding, and I’m really happy with my decision.”

On Nov. 1, the ‘Cats defeated Butler in Lewis’ home state. Lewis smacked the final kill to solidify Villanova’s win against the Bulldogs.

The success of the team has resulted in their first 20-win season and best conference record (11-5) since 2019.

“Twenty wins were on our radar as well, and here we are,” Steinbach said. “It might get us in the NCAA Tournament, and we’re in a pretty good position for that, so we’re pretty excited about it.”

Nov. 12 - Nov. 18

Wednesday, November 12

Women’s Basketball vs. Princeton 73-68 L

Men’s Swim & Dive vs. Rider 166-132 W

Friday, November 14

Women’s Cross Country @ Regionals

4th out of 30

Men’s Cross Country @ Regionals 3rd out of 28

Volleyball vs. UConn 3-2 W

Saturday, November 15

Football vs. Stony Brook 30-27 W

Men’s Basketball vs. Duquesne 87-77 W

Volleyball vs. Providence 3-0 W

Sunday, November 16

Women’s Basketball @ JMU 84-73 W

Now approaching the end of her second season, Lewis and the Wildcats are preparing for postseason play. The Wildcats own the three seed in the Big East Tournament. On Saturday, Nov. 22, Villanova is scheduled to take on two-seed Xavier in Milwaukee, WI, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Catching Up With The ‘Cats: Shaun Lyons (‘00) WEEKLY SCOREBOARD

Dylan Johnson Co-Sports Editor

In their first meeting together, former Villanova football head coach Andy Talley told Shaun Lyons (‘00) and the rest of the class of 2000 to look at the people to the left and right of them. Talley told the team that the people beside them will go on to be doctors, lawyers, but most importantly, they will be at their weddings.

“We had so many great players,” Lyons said. “[I could] name-drop for hours. All these guys are great people, and we still communicate with each other. It’s truly a family.”

Lyons, who was inducted into the Villanova University Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2021, is currently the President and CEO of Lyons Capital and has been since 2007. The firm operates just a mile from Villanova University and mainly works in the commercial real estate field. Lyons owns and operates a real estate portfolio with properties throughout the mid-Atlantic.

His investments include a wide variety of industrial, apartments, commercial and retail buildings.

His rapid success earned him a spot on the Philadelphia Business Journal ’40 Under 40’ list in 2008.

“I went in with the mentality that you have to kind of start at the bottom and work your way

up,” Lyons said. “And then you have to choose to grind and then outwork everyone else and try to be the first one in, the last one to leave. Just keep educating yourself and making sure that you’re great at your craft.”

One of Lyons’ current renovation projects, the Westbrook Community Apartments, is in partnership with former Villanova and Philadelphia Eagle running back Brian Westbrook (‘01) and Dan O’Day (‘75 BS, ‘80 LS). They are working on building 34 low-income apartments in Center City, Philadelphia.

“This is a great project for Philadelphia,” Lyons said. “It’s going to really help the neighborhood in terms of taking a blighted

building and converting it to a nicer building that everyone could be proud of with some ground-floor retail space. We’re really trying to add value to a community by giving additional housing options and some commercial space.”

Lyons began his professional career as vice president of Binswanger, a Center City-based brokerage company. For 14 years, he co-owned the Lyons Den, which was a “farm to table” restaurant located in Queen Village, Philadelphia, PA.

As a graduate of the Villanova College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with a degree in sociology, Lyons was able to return to the university as a real estate adjunct professor in the Villanova School

of Business in 2012, teaching real estate investments and finance and introduction to risks and opportunities.

“I was fortunate enough to be asked to be an adjunct,” Lyons said. “It was something that we never had when I was a student. So I was glad to be able to participate and help with the early stages of that. And that was a great experience for myself, as well as hopefully some students.”

During his time at Villanova, Lyons was a four-year starting linebacker and led the football team in tackles in three consecutive seasons. He was part of the program’s first Football Subdivision Championship (FCS) playoff win.

Today, Lyons is still involved with the football program. He is on the Andy Talley Bone Marrow Foundation Board, Villanova Football Club Board and Villanova Varsity Club Board.

This past weekend, Lyons stopped by No. 7 Villanova football’s 30-21 win against Stony Brook for Villanova football Alumni Day.

“I got to connect with some of the older guys and then I got to connect with the younger guys,” Lyons said. “In football, you’ve got anywhere from a four to five year swing of guys. It was great to hang out as an older guy with some of the younger guys that I played with and [share] great stories.” Lyons resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Julie Lyons, sons Wyatt and Bryce and daughter Alivya.

Randy Foye (‘06): Adapting Villanova Athletics To A New Era

Billy Burgess Staff Writer

Nearly 20 years after leading Villanova back to national prominence, former Big East Player of the Year and All-American Randy Foye (‘06) remains a central figure in shaping its future.

As the president of Friends of Nova, the University’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) collective, Foye guides student-athletes through an era defined by brand deals and financial opportunity.

Although the college sports landscape looks very different from the one he once played in, Foye emphasizes that Villanova’s strength as a program comes from the same foundation that carried his own generation: a tradition of discipline and high standards that shaped a championship culture.

“That’s why I appreciate Villanova so much,” Foye said. “It turns young boys into men. It turns people who want something different, who strive to be great, into blue-collar, hard-working guys off the court and a force on the court.”

When Foye arrived at Villanova in 2002 from his hometown of Newark, NJ, the men’s basketball program was searching for a direction. Jay Wright was a young coach with a vision, and told Foye’s class it would be the foundation of Villanova’s rebuild.

For Foye, that trust was

humbling. Villanova hadn’t advanced past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament in years, and Wright’s blueprint for success demanded total buy-in.

“The world felt like it was on our shoulders,” Foye said, reflecting on the pressure of being part of Wright’s first recruiting class. “We look at Coach Wright now as this Hall of Fame coach who’s been to Final Fours and won national championships, but he wasn’t that at all. His vision felt like a mustard seed, but he was always so confident in how he wanted us to play and execute at a championship level.”

Foye answered Wright’s demands with intensity. From his first practices with the team, Foye’s competitiveness and composure set him apart. Wright pushed every player, especially his guards, to defend, rebound, lead and think two steps ahead.

“You couldn’t say ‘My bad,’” Foye said. “You almost had to be perfect, knowing it wouldn’t be.”

Foye grew from a scorer with potential into the heart of a team that reestablished Villanova’s national reputation.

Alongside fellow guards Allan Ray, Mike Nardi and Kyle Lowry, he helped personify Wright’s vision, a style built on selflessness, toughness and poise.

By his senior year, Foye was the Big East Player of the Year, a first-team All-American and one

of the first real examples of the “Villanova guard” that would define the program for the next two decades. However, Foye came to understand that Wright was asking his guards to become something that didn’t yet exist.

“There’s no one he could point to and say, ‘That’s the guy who’s done it before you,’” Foye said. “So he created that player within us.”

The guard that Wright imagined became the foundation for every Villanova backcourt that followed, from Scottie Reynolds and Ryan Arcidiacono to Jalen Brunson and Collin Gillespie. Each inherited a piece of the standard that began with Foye’s class.

The same principles that Foye learned from Wright now guide his work off the court. Foye began leading Friends of Nova in 2022, through which he is tasked with helping student-athletes navigate the opportunities and responsibilities that come with NIL. His focus, he said, isn’t just on paying players but also preparing them for the future, through education and mentorship.

“We create initiatives around all our student-athletes to help them understand the importance of networking, financial literacy and their branding and NIL,” Foye said. “We truly believe that you should be the CEO of yourself, so you can build a legacy beyond four years.”

Under Foye’s leadership,

Friends of Nova serves as a bridge between the Villanova tradition and the realities of today’s college athletics. He works with the Athletic Department to create opportunities across all 24 varsity sports. Partnerships with financial institutions and charitable organizations give athletes practical experience, from managing income to engaging with their communities.

“That’s what makes our alumni proud,” he said. “It allows them to see what we’re building and support it, knowing they’re giving back to our student-athletes in the right way.”

Friends of Nova’s role in supporting Villanova student-athletes has evolved since Foye began his work with the collective. Federal approval of the House v. NCAA settlement in June 2025 legalized direct revenue sharing between universities and student-athletes. While student-athletes can now be directly paid through the new Villanova Strategic Excellence Fund (VASE) for their NIL, Friends of Nova still has an important role in creating partnerships and engaging the Villanova community.

Nearly 20 years after his final college game, Foye’s presence around Villanova still carries weight. He is no longer the guard diving on the floor or leading a huddle, but his influence remains in the players he mentors, the culture he helped define and the values he continues to uphold through Friends of Nova.

Men’s Swimming & Diving Defeats Rider

Lauren Armstrong Associate EIC

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, the Villanova men’s swimming and diving team defeated Rider in a home swim meet, 166-132.

The Wildcats (3-1) picked up their second-consecutive win of the early season. They secured 10 event wins, in addition to achieving 27 top-three finishes throughout the night. Rider (1-3) picked up six wins and a Villanova pool record in the 100-yard breaststroke.

The meet started with Villanova divers, senior Chris Jones and junior Nate Warson, competing in both the one and three-meter events.

Warson took first place in both events, earning a combined 18 points for the Cats, with scores of 319.50 and 343.80. Jones, placing third in both, brought a combined six points, with scores of 274.35 and 311.55.

“Having both [events] upfront was kind of interesting because [we knew where we] were,” Villanova head coach Rick Simpson said. “I think it was a nice bolt of energy for our guys to get through both of these events.”

Moving into the distance events, Rider took first place in the opening event, the 200-yard medley, with its A team coming in at 1:30.98.

Following the medley was the 1000-yard free event, which Villanova swept. Sophomore

Owen Nye took first place, junior Brady Tierney took second and senior Patrick Casey took third.

In addition to the 1000yard freestyle, Nye also took first place in the 500-yard freestyle race.

“I feel like it was a constant growth with him,” Simpson said. “He is continuing to develop and grow, and these are the types of athletes that a coach in our sport loves.”

Freshman Hugh Boris’ time of 2:00.29 set a new pool record in the 200-yard breast stroke and was two-hundredths of a second away from breaking the school record. The current program record, 2:00.26, was set in 2021 by Richard Nolan.

“I would describe him as one of our most impressive, high-quality recruits to commit to our program,” Simpson said. “So, if you can imagine two-hundredths of a second, you cannot even see that with your eyes. That is how close he was to actually being the fastest breast stroker to ever come through the program…I think we would all be shocked if he is not the record holder by the end of next week.”

Boris also placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 55.71.

“To put it into perspective, you know how good that kid [as a] freshman right now, by this time next week, he is probably going to be the fastest in the history of the

program in [the 200-yard breaststroke] event,” Simpson said. Rider senior Billy Ruddy set a new pool record in the 100yard breaststroke with a time of 55.34. Boris was behind him in second, and Rider junior Maxwell Connelly took third with a time of 56.17.

Junior Justin Nowicki placed first in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:50.42, with freshman Michael Anderson finishing behind him in third with a time of 1:53.75.

Later in the meet, Villanova swept the 200-yard individual medley, with junior Max Christensen taking first place with a time of 1:53.03, Nowicki placing second with a time of 1:54.94 and freshman Carter Gray finishing third with a time of 1:56.53.

While the Wildcats held a steady first-place overall presence over Rider, the two teams consistently switched back and forth in individual podium finishes.

To conclude the meet, the Wildcats took second and third place in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Villanova’s A team, composed of Sam Randall, Zach Sutter, Gavin Jones and Gavin Peck, ended second with a time of 3:06.99. Villanova’s B team, composed of Henry Gingrich, Brian Farrell, Nye and Kaden Elkovitch, finished in third with a time of 3:09.53.

Up next, the men, as well as the women’s team, will now travel to Maryland to compete in the Naval Academy Invitational hosted by Navy on Nov. 20-22.

Preview: WBB Faces Temple In Big 5 Championship Rematch

Casey Healey Staff Writer

Villanova women’s basketball (3-2) will return to the Finneran Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 22 to face Temple (3-1) in a rematch of last year’s Big 5 Classic championship game.

Saturday will be Villanova’s first Philadelphia Big 5 matchup of the season against a member of its Big 5 Classic “pod,” which consists of Temple and La Salle. Villanova will take on the Explorers on Nov. 25.

Temple has remained a consistent force in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). In the 2024-25 season, the Owls had a 13-5 conference record and finished fourth in the AAC. They ended last season with a loss to Rice in the AAC Championship semifinal.

Temple was placed fourth in the 2025-26 AAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Owls return junior guard Kaylah Turner, who averaged 10.1 points per game last season and shot 41.0% from the field. Turner was named AAC Sixth Player of the Year last season and placed on the AAC All-Newcomer Team. She was also named to the Preseason All-American Conference First Team. Turner currently leads the team in points this season, averaging 15.2 per game so far.

Junior forward Saniyah Craig, leads the team in rebounds. The 6’1’’ Jacksonville transfer currently averages 11.5 boards per game, putting her at 17th in the nation. Additionally, junior guard Tristen Taylor is tied at 23rd in the nation for assists. She currently averages 6.0 per game.

In their home opener, the Owls defeated the defending Atlantic 10 Champion, George Mason, in overtime, 94-85. Temple has also registered wins over La Salle and George Washington this season. The Owls fell to No. 23 West Virginia, 89-61, on Nov. 11.

Temple head coach Diane Richardson is currently in her fourth season with the team. She is also the fourth coach in program

history to surpass 50 wins, and one of two Temple coaches to obtain two 20-win seasons within their first three years.

Villanova currently maintains the upper hand in the alltime series with Temple, owning the record, 11-8. Last season, the ‘Cats fell short against Temple, 76-62, in the inaugural women’s Big 5 Classic Championship at the Finneran Pavilion on Dec. 6, 2024. The two Philadelphia rivals are even in their last 10 matchups, having five wins apiece.

The Wildcats will be looking to continue the winning momentum after defeating James Madison University on the road, 84-73. In its previous matchup, Villanova shot 28-of-57 (49.1%) from the field, 12-of-29 (41.4%)

from three-point range and 16-of20 (80.0%) from the foul line.

Sophomore guard Jasmine Bascoe continues to lead the Wildcats, averaging 18.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Graduate forward Denae Carter leads the team on the backboards, with an average of 5.2 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, freshman forward Kennedy Henry has stepped up in her debut season and been instrumental to Villanova’s defense, averaging 4.8 rebounds per game and recording a team-high nine blocks this season. She is also Villanova’s second-leading scorer, averaging 9.4 points per game.

Tip-off against Temple is set for 7 p.m. at the Finneran Pavilion.

Preview: MBB Starts Big 5 Play With La Salle Matchup

Jack McFadden Staff Writer

The Villanova men’s basketball team (3-1) is coming off a win over Duquesne, 87-77, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Finneran Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 15.

The Wildcats will look to extend their early win streak to four games as they begin Big 5 play this week.

Villanova will travel to North Philadelphia on Wednesday, Nov. 19, to face a long time Philadelphia Big 5 rival, La Salle (2-2). The game will tip off at 7 p.m. at John E. Glaser Arena.

The history between these two runs deep, as the series dates back to 1934, and the teams have been regular rivals since the inception of the Big 5. Villanova leads the all-time series, 44-27, with the last meeting in 2022, resulting in a Wildcat win, 81-68. Villanova has won 19 of the last 20 matchups with the Explorers. Through the first four games of the season, Villanova has been trending in the right direction, specifically with its highly-touted backcourt duo of redshirt sophomore Bryce Lindsay and star freshman Acaden Lewis. Lindsay, a James Madison University transfer, leads the Wildcats with 23.0 points per game, while Lewis averages 12.3.

Lindsay and Lewis, along with senior forward and Grand Canyon transfer Duke Brennan, who leads the nation in rebounds

(14.8 per game), are all players to keep an eye on this season for the ‘Cats.

This season, Villanova averages 85.3 points per game. It has not maximized opportunities from the free-throw line to start the season, shooting only 69.6% from the charity stripe. However, from beyond the arc, Villanova has been one of the better teams in college basketball. The Wildcats are shooting 37.3% from three, which has helped them significantly in the start of the season.

But the area where the Wildcats have been doing the most damage is on the glass. In its last game, Villanova out-rebounded Duquesne, 41-29, which created a lot of second-chance points. The Explorers average just 73.0 points per game this season, and are holding their opponents to 73.0 points a game. La Salle

only has two players who average double-digit scoring. Senior guard Jaeden Marshall averages a team high 15.3 points per game, while senior forward Jerome Brewer averages 11.5 points and four rebounds per game.

Another La Salle player to look out for is freshman guard Ashton Walker, who averages a team-high 5.5 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from three.

La Salle started its season off 2-0 after picking up wins against Coppin State and Monmouth. Since then, the Explorers have been on a two-game losing streak, falling to both Temple and Penn State.

One of La Salle’s most notable games of the season so far was against fellow Big 5 school, Temple, in which it lost, 90-63. Sophomore guard Rob Dockery led the way for the Explorers, with

11 points, while Marshall was limited to only nine points, shooting 30% from the field.

With the matchup against Temple, La Salle has already had a taste of the high-level competition within Big 5 play this season.

Leading into the annual Big 5 Classic triple-header on Dec. 6, Wednesday’s contest will be Villanova’s first matchup with a member of its three-team “pod.” The Wildcats will also face Temple on Dec. 1 to finish pod play.

Wednesday’s game against La Salle will serve as a significant indicator of where the Wildcats stand heading into the Big 5 Classic in the coming weeks, and whether they can carry their momentum from the start of the season into one of Philadelphia’s most historic basketball traditions.

Preview: Football Finishes Season Hosting Sacred Heart

James Haupt Staff Writer

After an overtime victory over Stony Brook this past weekend, No. 7 Villanova football will host nonconference opponent Sacred Heart (8-3) to wrap up the regular season.

The Wildcats will face a Sacred Heart program preparing to join the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) for its 2026 campaign. Villanova, which will move to the Patriot League next season, played its final regular-season CAA game last weekend.

The Wildcats extended their home win streak to 21 games, the longest active streak in Division I football, last weekend in the 30-27 win over Stony Brook. As Villanova (8-2, 7-1 CAA) looks to continue this home-field success, it also hopes to secure its eighthstraight win this season and earn a top spot in the FCS playoffs. It will learn of its FCS playoff status on Selection Sunday on Nov. 23.

The ‘Cats are in second place in the CAA, only half a game behind undefeated Rhode Island. If the Rams lose to Hampton on Saturday, Villanova will earn a share of the conference title.

The Pioneers are currently in a conference transition period as they have no conference affiliation this season. The Pioneers are coming off a high-scoring battle

against Merrimack College that resulted in a 42-37 victory.

Sacred Heart showed off its dominant run game in this one, tallying 424 total rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Josh Snyder led the team with a career-high 163 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Snyder has 562 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns this season.

Sacred Heart freshman running back Mitchell Summers totaled 147 rushing yards against Merrimack, giving him 404 yards on the season, along with seven touchdowns. In Saturday’s contest, the Villanova defense will have to

force the Pioneers to pass the ball and limit the two rushing threats of Snyder and Summers.

The Wildcat offense has been elite as of late, and it all stems from graduate quarterback Pat McQuaide. McQuaide threw for a season-high 280 yards last weekend with four passing touchdowns. McQuaide has now eclipsed the 2000-yard mark this season, with 16 passing touchdowns and only two interceptions. He averages the third-most passing yards in the CAA, with 212.7 per game.

Villanova also continued its running success last weekend, despite the absence of leading rush -

er, David Avit, who was out due to a knee injury. The Wildcats totaled 160 rushingyards, largely fueled by the sophomore running back duo of Isaiah Ragland and Ja’briel Mace. Ragland led the team with 97 rushing yards. Mace, who was coming off a record-breaking game, had a team-high 19 carries and 68 rushing yards. Without Avit in the lineup, those two made the most of their opportunities.

Saturday will mark Villanova and Sacred Heart’s first-ever matchup. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (FloSports) as the best home team in the FCS closes out the regular season in its own stadium.

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THE COCA-COLA HOLIDAY CARAVAN IS COMING TO VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY!

NOVEMBER 21ST

6PM- 8PM | S-3 LOT (BETWEEN MENDEL & SEPTA STATION)