Editors Choice: Films of the Decade

December 30, 2009 - Leave a Response

By Andrew Perez

10. Wall-E

In an age where global warming and pollution seem to be at their polemical high, Wall-E explains that there are some ideals that will last forever, even if the world may not. Thrust in a world that has been destroyed and is left with nothing but trash, Wall-E is able to find love with the most peculiar of species against the perils of sadistic, lazy world. Through Chaplin-like humor and a daring script, Wall-E catapulted the film to heights never before seen in animation. Well, you might say, many Pixar movies have already done this. Au contraire. Although many of the the studio’s other films have been excellent, none have been so poignant and relevant as the one that is the love story which a social conscious and equally matches the spirit of the times so vicariously.

9.Traffic

In the 2000s Steve Soderbergh officially stepped out of the art-house and into major motion pictures. Fortunately, what could’ve turned to a watered-down product instead became the basis of his ability to create large yet aesthetically pleasing powerhouse films. Soderbergh, who has been hailed as “the poster boy of the Sundance generation”, released this telling story of the drug trafficking between the Mexican-American border(seems pretty popular, See #5) that not only earned him numerous Oscars, it cemented his place as one of the preeminent directors of the era. With top-notch cinematography that documented the lives of dealers, users, and the politicians who desperately try to halt both of them, Traffic never falls into the easy traps of being too preachy and outlandish. Instead the film offers excellent performances across the spectrum including Benicio Del Toro, who won his first Oscar, as well as strong cast from the likes of Michael Douglas and Selma Hyak. It all adds up to a realistic picture of the complex, ruthless scene of drug trafficking that is as impactful today as it was at the start of the decade. Read the rest of this entry »

Editors Choice: Albums of the Decade

December 29, 2009 - One Response

By Andrew Perez

15. LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver

James Murphy issued in a type of music we now like to call dance-punk. The name is a bit misleading for Murphy sounds like anything but punk in songs like “Someone Great” or “All of My Friends” which are two of the most memorable songs of the decade if for nothing else but the lyrics alone. Aside from the words, Murphy’s slow progression of each song ensures a gentle ease into each track which works wonders for Sound of Silver as it provides for a full album of coherent grace.

14. White Stripes- Elephant

Oh, where would rock be without Jack White? The leader of the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, and his partner Meg, put out so many great albums this decade that if one were to randomly choose from any of them, it would not disappoint. Yet, it was this album which both stood as a classic while making Jack White a rock star in a decade pretty much absent of them. It is hard to deny to talent and tenacity of such an artist who has been the head of rock for every year of this decade and this is the album that started it all. Read the rest of this entry »

Merry Christmas From All Of Us At The Villanova Times!

December 25, 2009 - Leave a Response

A Great Day for ‘Nova Nation: Wildcats Win First Ever NCAA Football Championship

December 19, 2009 - Leave a Response

On Friday night, Villanova football defeated the Montana Grizzlies, by a score of 23 – 21 to claim their first ever NCAA Championship title in Division I-AA (FCS).

Matt Szczur and Chris Whitney are the saviors of this Villanova team. Szczur caught two touchdown passes and ran for 159 yards, sparking the Villanova offensive surge in the second half, even after coming up lame after a play in the first half. Szczur, a catcher for the Wildcats baseball team, was drafted in 2007 by the LA Dodgers, and speculation is, that although he is only a junior, he may depart Villanova through the draft this summer.

Whitney, the junior quarterback from Warminster, PA, was also essential to the Villanova rushing attack, with several hard hits and incredible blocks. He racked up 103 yards rushing and threw for 142 yards with one touchdown. He is an unorthodox quarterback in that the greatest asset to his game is his physicality and strength. His passing game is solid, but it is his other skills that fit in perfectly with offensive coordinatior Sam Venuto’s offense. 

Villanova’s victory and strong play in the second half, as well as their success all year, is due to their toughness and physicality. They are a hard hitting team, have a great rushing game, and have many strong role players who do not receive enough credit – namely Marquis Kirkland, Tim Kukucka, Ross Ventrone, Eric Loper, John Dempsey, Martel Moody, Brian Brannigan, Aaron Ball, Angelo Babbaro, Brandyn Harvey, Fred Maldonado, James Pitts, Joshua Potts, Osayi Osunde, Terrence Thomas, and many many more. All of Villanova should be very proud of this gutty, smart, passionate 2009 Villanova football team.

But tonight, the individual who is the most proud is of course Villanova head coach Andy Talley. A graduate of Southern Connecticut University, he spent 5 years coaching the St. Lawrence Saints, before heading to Villanova in 1985 to restart our football program, which had been dropped in 1980 after being a D-1A program for many years, and producing several football greats, most notably Howie Long. He has coached the likes of talented NFL players Brian Westbrook and Brian Finneran (who watched from the sidelines), although this is the first championship for Talley and the Wildcats.

Congratulations Villanova Football Team!

Photo Feature: Valley Forge

December 14, 2009 - Leave a Response

What I Did to Take a Break from Finals Work and Studying

Click Here: Photo Feature – Valley Forge National Park

Notes on Valley Forge National Park:

  • Most deer I have ever seen in one area - many large open fields and tall grass. You must look at the ground when walking or else you will surely step in deer feces – it is literally everywhere.
  • Large plumes of steam can be seen rising from the Limmerick nuclear plant many miles away. It is quite an amzing, albeit scary sight.
  • Definitely a trip that all Villanova students should make at some point.

Villanova Loses to Temple, 75-65

December 13, 2009 - Leave a Response

#3 Villanova lost to unranked Temple by a score of 75-65 on Sunday at the Liacouras Center of Temple University. The upset sparked Temple fans to rush the court once the game finally ended.

Villanova could not seem to get an open shot in the final minutes and missed every attempted three pointer down the stretch. Villanova was out rebounded by Temple with Pena only getting 3 boards.

More to come later.

Overheard at Villanova…at the football game – Villanova Advances to FCS National Championship, Defeats WMU 14-13

December 12, 2009 - Leave a Response

“So I heard that William and Mary is a big suicide school”

Villanova defeats William and Mary 14 – 13

Advances to the FCS National Championship at Chatanooga Tennessee

Villanova will face either Montana or Appalachian State next Saturday.

Notes on the Game:

  • Villanova’s final drive began at 5:41 in the fourth quarter and burned 5 minutes and 41 seconds of clock to end the game.
  • Villanova was 3 for 3 in converting 4th downs.
  • Villanova faked a punt in the 3rd quarter and converted the first down on a reverse to Szczur.
  • ESPN2 aired the nationally televised game.
  • Villanova students attempted to rush the field, and some succeeded, although those who did not succeed were all involved in a great post-game celebration on the sidelines with the football players.
  • Best new chant at Villanova: “All Hail Szczur!!”

Fail: Villanova’s End of Semester Dinner

December 11, 2009 - Leave a Response

By Matt Crawford

Last night, a few friends and myself went to the Pit, as we have done every year since arriving at Villanova in 2006, for the end of semester dinner. This time, the food and the general experience was notable worse than in past years. Villanova Dining Services must do a better job in the future of making the end of semester dinner a better experience.

Because there was no place to sit after we got our food, my friends and I ventured upstairs to eat in the Corner Grill. A few other students had done the same thing. After we finished eating our steak and “Sustainable Cold Water Lobster,” we went back down stairs for dessert, and of course were yelled at by the man who thought we were trying to sneak in without paying, which was not the case.

Now I am highly allergic to milk (not just lactose-intolerent), and there was not a single dessert that I could have. I ended up having another roll as my friends all indulged in the chocolates and tiramisu. I also could not have the “loaded” potatoes served with the steak and lobster. Why not just have traditional baked potatoes or sweet potatoes? Just another instance of Dining Services trying to get fancy when it is not necessary and in fact makes life tougher for students with food allergies as myself.

The End of Semester dinner was not worth going to. I would rather have the typical dining hall food than have the inconvenience of not finding a seat and eating terrible-tasting lobster and not being able to eat most of the food available.

New Issue: December 9, 2009

December 7, 2009 - Leave a Response

New Issue: November 11th, 2009

November 10, 2009 - Leave a Response

Complete PDF of New Issue

We invite you to view our newest issue in its entirety by clicking on the above link! Please help us promote our paper in anyway possible, whether fellow students, alumni, faculty or family. Any person not living at Villanova can pay to have the paper mailed to them each issue! This is a great issue and we hope you enjoy it!!

See below for some select articles and features, including audio files of Chris Fujimoto’s interview with Jay Wright!!

- Matt and Deena    Co-Editors in Chief

The Villanova Times Cover - 11.11.2009

Change You Can Eat – An Inside Look at Dining Services by Nick Schaefer

Special Olympics Weekend at Nova a Success as Always by Julianne Dudley

Nova Hillel: Small but Significant Jewish Group - by Ted Winston

Hope and Change 2009 by Anthony Pontarelli

“Abortion Isn’t Free” by Shauna Segadelli

Karma: Do We Always Get What We Give? By Ali Flukes

Exclusive Jay Wright Interview after Kutztown Exhibition Game – 11/5/2009