January 2013
Dear Neighbors and Friends:
Welcome to the January 2013 issue of Villanova University's Neighbors Update. This newsletter is meant to inform you about Villanova events, campus initiatives and ways to be involved in the life of the University. Please let us know if you have any comments or ideas for future issues.
In the Spotlight: Personal Training Services Available to Friends of Villanova
Villanova University offers personal training services to Friends of Villanova at reasonable rates. Hour sessions are $35 each and half-hour sessions are only $20. Let the University's experienced personal trainers help you keep your new year’s resolution, take your workouts to the next level or simply learn how to use the equipment in Villanova's fitness centers. Visit the personal training website for more information, including hours, trainer bios and payment options. Set up a registration meeting today by emailing Lisa Harris, Assistant Director of Athletics.
You're Invited! Upcoming Events & Opportunities
The Theatre Department and Asian Studies Program present “The Beautiful Life of the Woman Komachi”
A staged reading of a new play in five acts adapted from five short plays of Traditional Japanese Noh Theatre. The performance depicts transformative events in the astonishing life of Ono no Komachi, Japan's beloved and most admired woman, poet, beauty, lover and teacher. It is written by Joanna Rotté, Professor of Theatre and directed by Elizabeth Dowd, Producing Director with the Noh Training Project, with original music by David Crandall, of the Theatre Nohgaku. This event is free and open to the public. Performances are scheduled in the Connelly Center Cinema for this Friday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19 at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. While walk-ups are welcomed, pre-registration is encouraged. Visit this link to reserve your seats.
One Book Villanova Author to Visit Campus
Conor Grennan, author of Little Princes: One Man’s Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal, the 2012-2013 One Book Villanova program selection, will come to campus on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the Connelly Center’s Villanova Room. A book signing will follow. Little Princes chronicles the author’s transformative journey from a three-month stint as a volunteer at a Nepalese orphanage to the discovery of a life-changing mission to rescue young victims of child trafficking.
Villanova Theatre Offers US Premiere of Muswell Hill
When an earthquake in Haiti leaves one hundred thousand people dead and two million homeless, the tragic news erupts on Facebook, trends on Twitter and instantly becomes a Wikipedia article. Meanwhile, in a posh London suburb, six “connected” people wrestle with their hunger to love and be loved as they obsess over work, weight and what’s for dinner. Written by Torben Betts and directed by Harriet Power, Muswell Hill, which will run in Villanova Theatre Feb. 12-24, delivers a tart, timely skewering of contemporary communication and considers the promise and limitations of technology in a dehumanized age. Visit the Villanova Theatre website for more information and to order tickets.
Why Science and Faith Don’t Need to Conflict
Archbishop Lazar Puhalo will discuss how conflicts arising from the models of reality offered by religion and science can be resolved. The talk, titled “Models of Reality as Sources of Conflict,” will take place Monday, Feb. 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Driscoll Hall Auditorium. The archbishop hopes to demonstrate that conflicts between religion and science are unnecessary and unproductive. The Augustinian Institute, the Office for Mission and Ministry, and the Department of Theology are co-sponsoring the event.
Villanova Athletics Begins a New, Exciting Chapter
Villanova is embarking on a new and exciting course for its athletic programs—one that seizes control of its future while building on the traditions, values and rivalries that energize teams and fans. In December the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 and the presidents of Georgetown, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, DePaul and Marquette universities voted unanimously to pursue an orderly evolution to a foundation of basketball schools that honors the history and tradition on which the BIG EAST was established. This is a group of like-minded schools with excellent academics, great athletic histories and traditions, national-caliber basketball programs and passionate fan bases in major media markets.
Students Add to Vatican’s Social Media & Web Presence
Through an exclusive internship program with the Vatican, Villanova Communication and Computing Sciences students are helping to change the ways in which the Vatican communicates with the rest of the world–through the Internet, multimedia technology and social media. Communication interns played a role in the launch of the pope’s Twitter account in December; have added significant content to the Vatican’s other social media platforms; and have done research on ways to draw more viewers to Vatican News’ Facebook page and all parallel Vatican Web and social media sites. Computing Sciences students interning at three offices—the Internet Office in the Vatican City Telecommunications Department, Vatican Radio and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications—work on technical projects, including content and infrastructure for Vatican websites, news aggregation services, mobile application development, virtual reality, network security and Java development.
International Experience Brings Students Together
During the fall break international nursing clinical experience in the Dominican Republic, junior and senior nursing students partnered with six students from Campus Ministry to provide care, education and service to Haitian immigrants living in sugarcane fields. Four science and two business students had the opportunity to see nursing care in action and learn skills alongside the nursing students.
VSB Team Achieves National Accounting Challenge Finals
A team of Villanova School of Business (VSB) students was named one of five national finalists in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Extreme Accounting (xACT) Competition. The xACT challenge is a high-level case competition that tests students’ skills in critical thinking, decision making, collaboration, time management and presentation. Each team has two weeks to develop a solution to a real-world accounting issue, which they then present to a panel of PwC representatives. Nearly 50 schools from across the country participated this year in the competition. As a finalist, the VSB team received $10,000.
Air Products Makes Generous Donation to Engineering
For more than 50 years, Air Products and Chemicals has demonstrated its commitment to College of Engineering students, faculty, research and facilities. In November, Air Products manager Joe Lamack ’97 COE presented a check for $74,000 to Gary Gabriele, PhD, Drosdick Endowed Dean of Engineering, on behalf of the world-renowned manufacturer. In the past six years, Air Products has donated approximately $400,000, including this year’s contribution, to the College. Read more about the company’s special relationship with Villanova.
Young Alum Featured on 60 Minutes
In November, CBS’ 60 Minutes featured Ryan Costella ’04 and his work with Dream It Do It Nevada, a statewide effort to tackle the skills gap and create a highly skilled workforce in Nevada. Costella graduated magna cum laude from Villanova, where he majored in English and Political Science.
Useful Links for Neighbors & Friends
Villanova University Neighbors & Friends website
Stay Current with College-specific News & Events from Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Nursing and Law
Ignite Change. Go Nova. - Telling the Villanova Story
Villanova University Walking Trail
Villanova.com, the official site of Villanova Athletics
The Villanova University Shop
Follow Villanova on facebook, twitter and YouTube
Neighbors Update is an initiative of the Office of the President. Questions and feedback are welcomed and can be submitted by emailing neighbors@villanova.edu or by calling Chris Kovolski at (610) 519-7450.
Thank you for your continued interest in Villanova University!
