By Anna Jankowski, Ethan Shea, and Annie Stockmal

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! This week’s installment of the Curious Cat will be a bit different than usual. Rather than a more traditional question, we asked some Falvey patrons to guess the flavor of a mystery Peep. Check out the accompanying Instagram Reel to watch these students give the curious marshmallow treat a taste!

“Feeling confused … Is it red velvet?”

— Lauren Jones ’23

“Cherry?”

— Lily Daubenspeck ’26

“Cherry Cola.”

— Jack Murphy ’25

“It just tastes like marshmallow.”

— Lauren Arnold ’25

“Cherry Cola, Cherry Coke, or something like that?”

— Ava Eberly ’25

SPOILER ALERT:

And the mystery flavor is …

.

.

.

Dr. Pepper!

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a Senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library. 

By Ethan Shea

This photo from Belle Air 2003 shows Villanova Women’s Basketball alum Courtney Mix leaping for a layup while her teammate Katie Davis watches for a rebound. Davis, a co-captain at the time, was recently inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame. With 1,293 points, she ranks 16th in school history.

The 2002-03 season was the first and last time the Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight in the National Tournament. Twenty years later, (#4) Villanova is looking to repeat this feat by winning against the University of Miami on Friday at 2:30 p.m. Tune into ESPN to watch!

Best of luck to our women this week! #LetsMarchNova #TBT

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

By Ethan Shea

New Moon Suit (Image courtesy of NYT)

Last week, NASA unveiled their new moon suits, which will be worn by astronauts the Artemis program plans to send to the Moon by 2025.

For temperature regulation, the suits actually used on the Moon will be white instead of the black suit presented here. Temperatures on the surface of the Moon can reach 250 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and drop to -208 degrees Fahrenheit at night, so needless to say, astronauts need to take every precaution they can.

Without even taking the extreme temperatures into account, humans could, in theory, only survive a matter of seconds (about 15) on the Moon without a spacesuit. This is because space lacks air, so asphyxiation would occur very quickly, as the body will have used up all the oxygen in its blood in a matter of seconds.

This recent lunar fashion show is a perfect opportunity to highlight some extra-terrestrial threads you can find right here in Falvey’s stacks. Below, you’ll find a collection of iconic space-related outfits from popular literature and even their cinematic adaptations.

“Hidden Figures” promotional poster

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

This book turned movie shows that moon suits aren’t the only outfits essential to sending astronauts to space. Hidden Figures tells the story of a group of Black women mathematicians who overcame discrimination to help make the Apollo moon landing possible. The movie’s iconic promotional poster shows three women wearing outfits that just can’t be excluded from this list.

2001: A Space Odyssey

This classic Stanley Kubrick film showcases a memorable spacesuit that goes far beyond the moon. There are several iconic scenes in this flick, featuring everything from apes to robots!

Image from “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Men in Black

Sometimes space-wear is more earthly than you might think. The classic Men in Black suits certainly can’t be left out of any space fashion show.

Gravity

Gravity shows Hollywood stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney sporting more traditional spacesuits. This suspenseful story of survival is a must-see.

Star Trek Beyond

I couldn’t make a list about space fashion without including the iconic Star Trek fits. This most recent Star Trek film stays true to the classic suits. Which one is your favorite color?

Ethan Shea is a graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

By Anna Jankowski, Ethan Shea, and Annie Stockmal

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! In this Week’s Curious Cat, we’re putting our microphone to use. That’s right, the question this time around is: “What’s your go-to karaoke song?” Whether you like to “crank that” with Soulja Boy or jam to Shania Twain, we want to know!

Check out the blog and corresponding Reel to hear what a few Falvey patrons had to say, and don’t be afraid to leave a comment with your favorite karaoke tunes.

“Mine is ‘You Belong With Me’ by Taylor Swift.”

— Catarina Calvo ’26

“Mine’s ‘A Night to Remember’ from High School Musical.”

— Lily Daubenspeck ’26

“’Dancing Queen’ Mamma Mia! version.”

— Maia Nagorna ’26

“My go-to karaoke song is ‘Made You Look’ by Meghan Trainor.”

— Chloe Mcgreger ’26

“’Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’ Especially if I’m with one of my friends.”

— Seamus Daniello ’23

“’Starships’ by Nicki Minaj.”

— Amélie Devine ’26

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a Senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library. 

By Ethan Shea

Happy hump day, Wildcats! The semester is back in full swing, and there are already plenty of holidays to celebrate. Check out Graduate Assistant Annie’s Peek at the Week for a full list, but you can look forward to St. Patrick’s Day and my personal favorite, Pi Day, just to name a couple. My bias for Pi day is personal, as it is also my half birthday (and Albert Einstein’s actual birthday), but Pi day aside, there is an important reason why today, March 15, is infamous.

Statue of Caesar in front of Forum Romanum

Today is the ides of March, a date made famous by Shakespeare in the play Julius Caesar. “A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March” is the prophetic warning Caesar receives in the first act of the play, an iconic foreshadowing of his impending assassination. You can read Julius Caesar online through Falvey’s website here.

The ides only occurs when a full moon falls on the 15th of a month. This phenomenon does not happen very often. In fact, the only months with ides are March, May, July, and October.

Shakespeare did not choose the ides of March without reason, as Caesar was really killed on March 15, 44 B.C.E. Caesar’s death led to a civil war, and the following power vacuum placed Augustus, Caesar’s heir, on the throne.

Before Julius Caesar ruled, the Romans celebrated the New Year on March 1. To honor the two-faced God Janus, Caesar implemented the aptly named Julian calendar and changed New Year’s Day from March 1 to Jan. 1 in the year 46 B.C.E. The 365-day Julian calendar is the same one we continue use here in the United States to this day.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

By Ethan Shea

It’s spring break! I don’t want to steal too much of your vacation time, so I’ll keep this week’s blog brief. That being said, I hope you’re enjoying some well-deserved relaxation.

You may be far from campus. Perhaps you’re napping on a beach or skiing slopes in Colorado. Or you could be enjoying a staycation, enjoying your time off while saving a few bucks.

If you’re staying local, to spice up your time at home, consider paying Falvey a visit! Even during break, there’s 24/7 Wildcard access. See our full service hours here.

Not only is the Library a quiet place to relax, but it’s also a way to travel the world without ever leaving your seat. Many of our texts are available online, so you can enjoy everything Falvey has to offer from home.

In the spirit of the staycation, here are a few spring break reading recommendations that will take you to faraway places:

A Room with a View – E.M Forster

On the Road – Jack Kerouac

Journeys – Jan Morris

The Sun Also Rises – Ernest Hemingway

The Expedition of Humphry Clinker – Tobias Smollett

Corregidora – Gayl Jones

The Odyssey – Homer

If you have any other spring break reading recommendations, feel free to leave a comment below. Enjoy the break, and happy reading!

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

By Anna Jankowski, Ethan Shea, and Annie Stockmal

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! In this episode of the Curious Cat we’re welcoming your hot takes. Is there something you hate but everyone else seems to like? Let us know in the comments, and keep reading to see how others responded!

“I hate ketchup.”

— Kayla Verga ’24

“Caffeine.”

— Nicholas Federico ’23

“Kylie Jenner.”

— Elaina Martin ’23

“I really don’t like reality TV.”

— Olivia Picca ’25

“I don’t like cheesecake at all.”

— Maria Abraham ’25

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a Senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library. 

By Ethan Shea

Photo from garment strike in New York City, courtesy of Library of Congress (1913)

During the early twentieth century, women working in textile factories were subject to terrible working conditions and inhumane treatment by employers. In addition to grueling hours and minuscule pay, workers were often locked in the factory to prevent them from taking breaks.

Clearly, this was a health and safety violation, as was tragically made clear during the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, an industrial disaster that killed 146 garment workers, 123 of which were women and girls.

Such poor treatment led to years of strikes within the textile industry. The photo above shows three women garment workers on strike in New York City. These protests were essential to the establishment of unions and labor rights in the U.S.

Military Mapping Maidens (3Ms) in Falvey Library

In recognition of such contributions by brave women, the month of March is dedicated to celebrating women’s history, and the 31-day celebration begins today! Considering recent challenges to women’s reproductive rights, recognizing Women’s History Month is more important than ever.

March was chosen to be Women’s History Month because it coincides with International Women’s Day on Mar. 8. At first, Women’s History Month was only a week, the first of which occurred in 1978 as a local celebration in California.

Two years later, President Jimmy Carter declared the first National Women’s History Week to be the week of March 2-8, 1980. It was not until 1987 that March was officially declared Women’s History Month. Read more here!

Here at Falvey, there are countless resources that highlight women’s achievements. For example, the recent Art of War exhibit on the first floor of Falvey featured historical artifacts showing how women took part in the Second World War. Check out this blog to learn more!

Below are some more resources for Women’s History Month you can find right here at Falvey:

• U.S. Women’s History: Untangling the Threads of Sisterhood
• Selling Women’s History: Packaging Feminism in Twentieth-Century American Popular Culture
• Black Women’s History: Theory and Practice
• Women in World History: 1450 to the Present
• Doing Women’s Film History: Reframing Cinemas, Past and Future
• Religious Women and Their History: Breaking the Silence
• Women Drummers: A History from Rock and Jazz to Blues and Country

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

By Anna Jankowski, Ethan Shea and Annie Stockmal

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! Welcome to another installment of the Curious Cat! This week’s question is “Who would you like to play yourself in a movie?” Your answer can be a celebrity look-alike or just someone who would capture your energy. We asked a few Falvey patrons what they think, and here are the answers we received:

“Julia Roberts.”

— Tierney Schiff ’23

“Elizabeth Olsen.”

— Bridget Caste ’23

“Miley Cyrus.”

— Caroline Kane ’23

“Emma Watson.”

— Reilly Graney ’23

“I would say Jennifer Lawrence.”

— Michelle Diamandi ’23

“Lady Gaga just because she can do everything, and I think she is one of the best performers out there.”

— Marina Passero ’23

“Selena Gomez because I really relate to her character Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place.”

— Emily Weingold ’23

“Young Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap because everyone’s been saying I look like her recently.”

— Fiona Kelley ’23

“Eli Manning because I’ve been told I look a lot like him, but also Jake Gyllenhaal because he’s really intense.”

— Kevin Heist ’23

Anna Jankowski ’23 CLAS is a Senior Communication Major from just outside Baltimore who ​​works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant in Falvey.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Annie Stockmal is a graduate student in the Communication Department and Graduate Assistant in Falvey Library. 

By Ethan Shea

As you probably know, this past Monday was President’s Day, a national holiday falling on the third Monday of February. The holiday is meant to celebrate the birthdays of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s birthday falls on the twelfth of February, while Washington’s is today, Feb. 22!

To commemorate the President’s 290th birthday, this week’s Cat in the Stax blog is all about George … well, not exactly. This blog will be about famous figures who share a name with the first U.S. President.

“A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat

One George worth mentioning is French painter Georges Seurat. The next Villanova Theatre production, Sunday in the Park with George, will be a musical inspired by the painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, the most famous work by Monsieur Seurat. Created by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, this play will be performed at the John and Joan Mullen Center beginning on April 13. You can read our recent blog on the current production, Chrysalis, here!

Another George who cannot be ignored by any library is George Eliot. Mary Ann Evans is best known as George Eliot, a pen name Evans used to garner respect as a woman writer amidst 19th century misogyny. Some of her most famous novels, including Middlemarch, Adam Bede and The Mill on the Floss can all be found here at Falvey!

George Washington … not the aforementioned president, but George Washington Carver, is another notable George. Carver is known for his contributions to agricultural science. Having been born an enslaved Black man in 19th century America, Carver overcame unimaginable oppression to become a Professor at Tuskegee University. Check out the book George Washington Carver: In His Own Words to learn more about his life, and you can find even more resources for Black History Month here.

It’s also worth mentioning that there are more than just books here at Falvey. There are more movies than anyone could watch, and one famous George is responsible for a number of them. George Lucas, a prominent mind behind the creation of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises is a George who also made his mark. The very first Star Wars film is currently held at Falvey, so start your Star Wars journey here!

Last but not least is everyone’s favorite fictional George. That’s right, even Curious George can be found here at Falvey! Check out this book on the history and cultural implications of this beloved children’s character.

Ethan Shea is a second-year graduate student in the English Department and Graduate Assistant at Villanova University.