Letters to the Editor

 Mourning the end of Balloon Day

To the editor,

Last Thursday was the Spring Activities Forum, held in the Villanova Room. It was a who’s who of clubs to be found here on Villanova’s campus. 

Nestled in the back corner, past the sorority tables and the Accounting Society, was a table that doesn’t always get much recognition. It’s not because it was advertising a new group or a little-known club – it’s because it was advertising a once-a-year event. But don’t let that single mark on the calendar fool you because you can ask almost anyone here on campus what his or her favorite day is, and he or she will drop the name of this event. Still don’t know which one I’m talking about? It’s Balloon Day. 

That’s right, that single day that comes around every April when the campus becomes a carnival, full of laughing kids, food stalls and giant, rainbow balloon arches. 

It’s a day that everyone looks forward to, staff and students alike. Those involved wake up at 4 a.m. to construct those arches that make everyone smile and then spend the day showing little kids the true spirit embodied here at Nova.

When I approached that small table in the back of the crowded Villanova Room, I smiled in anticipation of my own personal favorite day. But as I spoke to those organizing the event, I was informed that April 20, 2010 would be the final Balloon Day. After 38 years of fun and laughter, the balloon arches would be coming down. Several groups on campus have decided to merge Balloon Day with other, similar campus events.

I don’t doubt that 2011 will bring fun events for the whole campus to enjoy. I know Campus Ministry and the other involved parties will continue the wonderful tradition of inviting kids to campus. And I’m sure that those involved in Balloon Day will rededicate their efforts to whatever new event is planned. 

But I can’t help feeling a little saddened to think that the freshman Class of 2014 will never experience a Balloon Day and that my own senior year will be devoid of one. 

I know that all good things must come to an end, but I am truly saddened to see the end come so soon to this particular thing.

-Christina Hansen

Class of 2011

Kelly's needs to remember its most loyal customers

To the editor,

Plain and simple, Kelly’s is starting to exploit its customers. Villanova students, arguably the bar’s main source of revenue, got a bit of bad news the other day when they found out that the new $5 cover charge — up from $3 which was already up from $2 — for Tuesday nights will remain for the length of the year. Also, cover charges of $2-3 apply on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Keep in mind that aside from Brownies, no other bars frequented by Villanova students charge a cover.  Furthermore, Kelly’s is moving up the “Dollar Drinks” special from a 10 p.m. start to a 9 p.m. start, ensuring that students will either be in the bar for an hour longer than normal or arrive at the usual time and pay regular price for drinks from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. 

Kelly’s is hoping that it has enough leverage (due to the small number of conveniently located bars) to raise prices, yet continue to draw the same customer base. 

In fact, when asked about “Dollar Drinks” being cancelled this Tuesday, the person on the phone responded by saying: “We feel that we will be able to draw a large enough crowd tonight because of the basketball game that offering drink specials is unnecessary.”  When asked if there would still be a cover (since there were no specials), the person said, “Yes, cover will still be $5.” 

Kelly’s is making it no secret that it is taking advantage of its customers and is basically challenging Villanova students to do something about it.  Student action was successful in bringing back the Happy Hour deals at Brownies and should be taken again to prohibit Kelly’s from continuing to exploit its customers.

-Joseph Salerno 

Class of 2010

Center for Multicultural Affairs not just for minorities

To the editor,

We are graduate assistants in the Center for Multicultural Affairs and we are writing in response to your recent article “Professor questions elitism among Catholic universities.” 

While we appreciate your paper’s acknowledgement of our Center, we would like to correct some misrepresentations of the students that we serve. 

The article states that our programs, specifically ACTIVE, are solely for students the article terms “from low-income backgrounds and education.” 

Using those terminologies reinforces the elitist views that the article was seeking to debunk. While some of our students do fall into this category, it is not true of all of them, and our services are available to everyone. 

As our Web site states, “An integral and defining component of the Center for Multicultural Affairs overall mission is to recruit, retain and graduate (happy) an increasingly diverse student body. We accomplish this goal through our comprehensive retention and mentoring programs.” 

While the ACTIVE program seeks to help those students who are underrepresented at Villanova, it is our primary goal to equip students from all backgrounds to successfully integrate here at Villanova. 

-Chelsea Hampton and  Kelly Vass

Center for Multicultural Affairs