QUOTE OF THE WEEK

In Siege and Storm, Leigh Bardugo wrote, “When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable.”

Happy Monday, Wildcats! Sometimes it’s hard to overcome your own doubts. It’s easy to underestimate yourself, making a lot of things seem impossible for you. But when we say impossible, we actually mean improbable, and unlike impossibilities, you can always beat the odds no matter how stacked against you they might be.

My advice: don’t let your doubts stop you from going for it, whatever “it” is for you, just because it’s improbable.

THIS WEEK AT FALVEY

Monday, November 6

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

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

Tuesday, November 7

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

Wednesday, November 8

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

Thursday, November 9

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

Friday, November 10

2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium at Villanova University | 1-4 p.m. | Villanova Room, Connelly Center | Free & Open to the Public

Intersectional Reflections Kickoff Dinner Discussion | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Room 10A, Garey Hall | Free & Open to Graduate Students | Refreshments Served | Register Here

Match Research Program for First Year Students Application Deadline | 11:59 p.m. | More Information Available Here

Sunday, November 12

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

HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK

As you might be aware, this week boasts two major holidays: Election Day on this Tuesday, Nov. 7, and Veterans Day on this Saturday, Nov. 11. Although those are both important holidays, here are some fun holidays you can celebrate this week:

Photo by Manny Becerra on Unsplash

If you’re in the mood for some good eats, today, Nov. 6, is National Nachos Day. Whether it’s Taco Bell, some microwaved cheese on some tortilla chips, or loaded nachos from your go-to spot, today is the day to enjoy this delicious Tex-Mex staple.

As mentioned above, this Tuesday, Nov. 7, is Election Day. Although it’s not a “big” election, voting in your local elections can actually have a bigger impact on your everyday life than you might realize. In fact, as the ACLU points out, with a State Supreme Court seat on the ballot this year in Pennsylvania, this election is pivotal in deciding the rights of all Pennsylvanians, including your fellow Villanovans. Not sure who is running? Check out Vote411 to learn more about who will be on your ballot and what they stand for. If you’re registered to vote at Villanova, visit Let’s Vote Nova’s page to find your Villanova-specific polling stations and other important voting information for Villanova students. You can also check out last year’s Weekends Recs on the Pennsylvania Midterm Elections to explore the importance of voting.

Got a sweet tooth? This Saturday, Nov. 11, is also National Sundae Day. I know ice cream and cold weather aren’t typically enjoyed together, but you can still savor the sweet taste of an ice cream sundae from the comfort of the warm indoors.

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

The 2022 Pennsylvania midterm elections are coming up this November, and regardless of your political affiliation, voting in them is important (especially if you have a bone to pick with any of the recent Supreme Court rulings or state legislation). This upcoming election will determine Pennsylvania’s next U.S. Senator and Governor, among other important positions. In celebration of National Voter Registration Day this upcoming Tuesday, this weekend’s recs will help you prep for the PA midterm elections, whether it’s your first time voting or your 40th.

If you have 5 minutes…and don’t know if you’re registered to vote in PA, check your voter registration status.

If you have another 5 minutes…and are not registered to vote in PA (or moved dorms since the last time you voted), submit an online voter registration application. There are a few voting districts that cover Villanova’s campus, so if you moved dorms this year, you may need to update your registration by submitting a new application.

If you have 10 minutes…and want to know all of the important deadlines for the PA midterm elections, read this NBC article. The election isn’t until Nov. 8, but there may be other important deadlines to be aware of before you can cast your ballot.

If you have another 10 minutes…and want to request a PA mail-in or absentee ballot, visit this page to find the right application for you (available in English, Spanish, and Traditional Chinese). You can submit these applications online or print one out and mail it.

Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash

Bonus: if you don’t know the difference between a mail-in ballot and an absentee ballot or have questions about the two, check out this website. It explains the differences and answers some other key questions you may have.

If you have 15 minutes…and want to hear about the high profile Senate race in PA, read this New York Times article. Even for those who are not heavily tuned into politics, the race between Dr. Oz (R) and John Fetterman (D) is garnering national attention.

If you have another 15 minutes…and are an out-of-state resident planning to vote in your home state’s election, find out your state’s important dates and information for the midterms through NBC‘s 2022 midterm calendar.

If you have 20 minutes…are not sure who will be on your ballot, visit Vote411. Just put in your home address (or your Villanova dorm address), and it will show you some of the important candidates on your ballot. It also includes responses from candidates answering various questions about their campaigns and positions.

If you have 25 minutes…and want to learn more about voting rights, watch this Netflix docu-series episode. It really shines a light on some of the issues that voters in the U.S. face and offers some hope for change.

If you have 2 hours and 8 minutes…and want to watch a film that highlights the people who helped secure and protect the voting rights of many BIPOC Americans, watch Selma. The film provides a gritty look at a brutal event in the Civil Rights Movement, and, bonus, it was directed by a black woman, Ava DuVernay.

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