By AJ Balinski

April 26 is Arbor Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the planting of trees. The holiday was born in 1872 in Nebraska City and was first observed by planting over one million trees, but this day of celebration has since spread. Today, communities all around the world take Arbor Day as an opportunity to organize tree-planting events and to ensure the world’s trees are happy, healthy, and thriving!

Take a look at this Magnolia tree outside Falvey Library. This beautiful Magnolia, which bears a plaque honoring Dr. Mary Ann Griffin, Falvey Library Director 1984-95, has seen decades of students bustling in and out of the Library and is still standing strong today. If you have the chance, walk by the front of Falvey to see it in person!

AJ Balinski ’26 CLAS is a Communication major from Gibraltar, Michigan. She works as a Communication & Marketing Assistant at Falvey Library.

Happy Friday, Wildcats! Falvey Library is delivering you another semester of Weekend Recs, a blog dedicated to filling you in on what to read, listen to, and watch over the weekend. Annie, a graduate assistant from the Communication department, scours the internet, peruses the news, and digs through book stacks to find new, relevant, and thought-provoking content that will challenge you and prepare you for the upcoming week. A disclaimer that this column is intended for reflection and entertainment (not for academic research, for example), and infuses scholarly content as possible.

Maybe it was the neon fever dream of Lisa Frankenstein a couple months ago, but the ’80s have been on my brain. Whether they were your formative years, you grew up on re-runs, or you just like the aesthetic, the 1980s make a lot of people feel nostalgic. Plus, with the rise and relative hold of Strangers Things, the ’80s are reaching new audiences.

Photo showing Cyndi Lauper, Studio Badge, and Sweatshirt issued to all attendees at A & M Studios, Hollywood California on January 28, 1985. Attribution : © Glenn Francis, www.PacificProDigital.com. Image sourced from Wikicommons.

As we approach the end of the semester, I think we could all use some lighthearted nostalgia (and a bit of campy fun) to help give our brains a  break. So, this weekends recs are all about the ’80s.

If you have 7 minutes…and want to listen to performances from some of the most iconic ’80s artists all in one song, watch the “We are the World” music video.

Bonus: You can also watch the The Greatest Night in Pop documentary about the behind-the-scenes scoop on “We are the World” and the artists involved.

If you have 15 minutes…and want the sparknotes of the 80s according to History, read this article.

If you have 30 minutes…and want to reminisce on the year 1985, flip through People’s “Celebrating the ’80s” edition, available through Falvey. If you think you remember 1985 like it was yesterday, there’s even a quiz for you to test your memory.

If you have 1 hour and 49 minutes…and want to watch one of the best horror movies of the ’80s, watch The Thing, currently free to stream on Tubi.

Bonus: if you want a less scary alien movie, watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, available in Falvey’s DVD Collection.

If you have 2 hours and 6 minutes…and like (kind of ridiculous) superhero movies, watch Batman (1989), available to stream online through Falvey.

Bonus: if you want to watch 2 other iconic movies from ’89, watch Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, available to stream online through Falvey, or Heathers, currently free (with ads) to stream on Youtube.

If you have 6 hours…and like dystopian books, read Margaret Atwood’s iconic The Handmaid’s Tale, available at Falvey.

Bonus: for more ’80s book recommendations, check out this list.

If you have 10 hours…and need a new playlist to jam out to, listen to Spotify’s “All Out 80s” playlist.

Interested in a ’90s throwback? Swing by our 90s-themed Stress Busting Open House on Friday, May 3 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. More details are available here. 

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

This week, the Villanova community came together to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Falvey Hall as the home of Villanova University’s Library.

This diamond jubilee included cakes, cookies, and popcorn, as well as the opportunity to sign a ten-foot birthday card. People shared their favorite Falvey memories in the hopes of winning ultra limited Father Falvey socks.

Happy Thursday, Wildcats! This week, the Curious Cat team wanted to know what students were doing once the semester ended. We asked students, “What are your plans for the summer?”

“I am studying abroad in London”
-Daniel Eden ’26 VSB

“Interning in ATL + Summer Classes”
-Jack Byrne ’26 VSB

“Working as an EMT”
-Austin Kanyuh ’26 CLAS

Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Julia Wagner ’26 CLAS is a second-year Economics major and student worker at Falvey Library.

By Shawn Proctor

Finals are stressful for students, which is why Falvey Library gives students a little boost before taking on those big tests and papers. While you’re getting all the details on this year’s event on May 3, check out this tasty scene from 2019’s event: a dessert bar! Because everyone feels a bit better after a cupcake or brownie (or both!)

Shawn Proctor, MFA, is Communication and Marketing Program Manager at Falvey Library.

As Falvey’s Cat in the Stax, Rebecca writes articles covering a broad range of topics, from academics to hobbies to random events. All the while highlighting how Falvey Library can enhance your Villanova experience!

Happy Wednesday, Wildcats! The last day of classes is next Thursday, can you believe it? It feels so close yet so far at the same time. I know most of you are probably feeling burnt out right now, I sure am. Aware that this is a stressful time for students, I’ll keep this post short, but that doesn’t make the message any less important.

Self-care is critical for our physical and mental well-being. You’ve definitely heard this term before–it means caring for yourself. By looking after yourself and taking care of often-ignored needs, you can benefit your overall well-being and improve your productivity in the long run. The benefits of continuous self-care include improved physical, mental, and emotional health, increased productivity, better social relationships, heightened self-esteem, and decreased chances of burnout.

Photo by Content Pixie from Unsplash.com

Taking a step away from your work is necessary every once in a while. Make some time these next few weeks to take a break and relax, even if it’s only for five minutes. Do something for yourself that makes you happy. Below are a variety of ways you can engage in some self-care:

Physical:

• Work out
• Take a walk
• Sit outside in the sun and fresh air
• Eat well
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night

Mental/Emotional:

• Talk to someone–a friend, relative, therapist, professor, mentor, etc.
• Journal
• Stay Positive
• Volunteer
• Meet up with friends and family
• Read a book
• Do something artistic
• Watch a movie

Spiritual:

• Meditate/Pray
• Practice Mindfulness
• Practice Yoga

If you happen to be studying in Falvey on May 3, please take some time to check out our Stress Busting Open House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Library will have snacks, fun activities, and some cute furry friends! It will be a great way to take a break from work and re-energize yourself!

Looking to get involved in making a difference? Villanova has organized a myriad of events over the next two weeks to celebrate Earth Week. Click here to look at what’s being offered and to sign up!

Rebecca Amrick is a first-year graduate student in the English Department and a Graduate Assistant at Falvey Library.

Join the Office of Belonging and Inclusion and Falvey Library’s DEI Committee to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month on May 1, from 1-2:30 p.m. (or until supplies last), with free mochi donuts and a bubble tea bar. Stop by the Suite Lounge in Corr Hall to grab some bubble tea, then head over to Falvey Library’s first floor for some mochi donuts. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month Falvey Library will be sharing a list of books and other resources by and about people of Asian-Pacific ancestry. No list of this nature could ever be comprehensive, but we hope the resources will serve as a starting point.

What are mochi donuts?

Mochi donuts also known as poi mochi are a hybrid between cake donuts and chewy mochi, Japanese rice cakes made from glutinous rice, also known as polished sticky rice. Mochi donuts typically use gluten-free tapioca flour or glutinous rice flour. While some recipes include all-purpose flour, they can also be made entirely gluten-free.

What is Bubble Tea?

Bubble tea also known as “Boba tea,” “pearl milk tea,” or in Taiwan, zhenzhu naicha (珍珠奶茶) is a Taiwanese recipe made by blending black tea, milk, fruit juices, and chewy tapioca pearls, all shaken together and served with a large straw big enough to accommodate the tapioca pearls.

This event, co-sponsored by the Office of Belonging and Inclusion and Falvey Library, is free and open to the Villanova community.

The Villanova Community is cordially invited to join us on Monday, April 22, 1-3 p.m. (or until supplies last!), on the Falvey Hall Patio to celebrate a major milestone: the 75th anniversary of Falvey Hall as the home of Villanova University’s Library!

We’ll offer a variety of delicious treats including cake, cookies, and candy for attendees to savor during this sweet moment! In honor of the Library’s namesake, we’ll also be raffling off a limited amount of custom Father Falvey socks. (See below for a preview of this dripping footwear!)

You can help us commemorate this momentous occasion! Make sure to stop by to sign our big anniversary card and take a trip down memory lane by sharing your favorite Falvey memories! We want to know what part Falvey has played during your journey at Villanova.

We hope to see you there. Cheers to 75 memorable years!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Measure for Measure, Shakespeare wrote, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! As we approach the end of the semester and papers, exams, assignments, and other responsibilities pile up, remember to not let your doubts cloud your mind and make you miss out on opportunities and achievable goals. Everyone doubts themselves at some point, that’s totally normal, but letting your doubts rule you and stop you from trying will almost never end in success. So, believe in yourself and don’t let your doubts stop you from seizing your moment.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, April 22

Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Falvey Hall as the Home of Villanova University’s Library | 1-3 p.m. | Falvey Hall Patio | Free & Open to the Villanova Community

Mindfulness Monday | 1-1:30 p.m. | Multifaith Prayer Room, St. Rita’s Hall | Virtual Option | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to Villanova Students, Faculty, & Staff

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Tuesday, April 23

Broadening Diversity in the Environmental Sciences through a High School Environmental Justice Focused Research Experience | 4-5 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Wednesday, April 24

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 4-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Thursday, April 25

Black History in the Philadelphia Landscape with Amy Cohen | 12-1:15 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | ACS-Approved | Free & Open to the Public | Livestream Here

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 12-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

Friday, April 26

2024 Falvey Scholars Research Presentation and Awards Ceremony | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Speakers’ Corner | Free & Open to the Public | Livestream Here 

Sunday, April 28

Center for Speaking and Presentation/The Learners’ Studio | 3-9 p.m. | Room 301 | Free

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

As you might already know, today, April 22 is Earth Day—which you can read about in GA Rebecca’s latest Cat in the Stax blog—but here are some other holidays coming up this week:

If you’re chronically blaring music in your headphones or in noisy environments, International Noise Awareness Day is this Thursday, April 25. It’s not typically something we think about when we’re young, but exposure to loud noise can catch up with us in the future (and a lot sooner than you might think). Check out this CDC infographic for more information on why protecting your ears is important.

Photo by Martii Tolentino on Pixels

I know it’s that point in the semester where almost everyone is in the trenches, but this Friday, Apr. 26 is Get Organized Day. If you’re feeling motivated to get organized, today is the day, whether you’re looking to de-clutter your room, reorganize your closet, or get all your notes and end-of-the semester assignments organized.

If you’re a salty-over-sweet kind of person, Friday is also National Pretzel Day. As former GA Ethan talked about in his “Pretzelvania” blog post, Pennsylvania takes pretzels very seriously, being the nation’s leading producer. Whether you prefer hard pretzels or soft pretzels, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy some pretzels.

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