This month, we welcome warmer temperatures along with opportunities to join us on campus for several special events. 

This week, Villanova University continues its celebration of 250 years of American and Irish-American history with a visit from Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Prime Minister of Ireland, in addition to a special production of "Bellow", presented by Villanova's Center for Irish Studies. Read on for ticket and event information. 

Our Cultural Film Series also continues this month, with screenings and lectures designed to spark discussion about history and portrayals of American identity. See below for screening dates and times. 

We hope to see you on campus this spring to take in a show, a game, or a stroll.

Please reach out to neighbors@villanova.edu with questions. 

One Shirt, Many Threads, Connected by a Single Fabric: Ability        

FOX College Hoops Extra

The t-shirts given away at Villanova men’s and women’s basketball games are more than just t-shirts: they are a message of inclusivity and commonality. LEVEL, the campus organization behind the shirts, is a student group formed to bridge the gap between students with various abilities and disabilities. They just received their largest ever donation—a $1 million scholarship gift named in honor of the late Michael Gaynor, longtime Villanova admissions director and champion for students with disabilities. 

Papers Passed Down in History May Have Value. But Who Determines It?        

USA Today (subscription may be required to view)

A letter from George Washington to one of his colonels during the Revolutionary War. Legal writings by Abraham Lincoln before he became President. Objects like this have been passed down through generations, discovered among a departed loved one's belongings or uncovered in dusty attics or safe deposit boxes. But how is their monetary and historic value determined? And where do they belong: in the hands of private collectors or on public view? "Most artifacts and documents are moving between public and private status over the course of their lives," said Whitney Martinko, a professor of history at Villanova University. 

On Saturday, March 14, Villanova University’s Center for Irish Studies welcomes Ireland’s Prime Minister, the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to campus for an afternoon celebrating Irish American connections and scholarship at Villanova, as well as 250 years of Irish American history.

Taoiseach Martin will speak on enduring ties between Ireland and the United States, followed by an academic fireside chat from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Topper Theater of the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts. The event is free and open to the public.

Registration is required.

The Cultural Film Series is proud to announce a partnership with the Augustine and Culture Seminar Program. This year’s film series explores two themes: representations of the ancient world and portrayals of American identity.

Films are screened in the Cinema of the Connelly Center on Villanova’s campus on Sundays at 3:30PM and 7PM and Monday evenings at 7PM. Visitors may park in the I-1 Garage, located at Lancaster and Ithan Avenues. 

Speakers, who introduce the film and lead a discussion after the screening, are only present for the Monday evening screenings. As always, all screenings are free and open to the public.

Please note that all films are intended for audiences aged 18 or older. 

MARCH 15-16

SMILE

USA, 1975 | 117 minutes

Directed by Michael Ritchie

This dark comedy explores small-town America through a teenage beauty pageant is, “a biting satire of American values” (Vincent Canby, New York Times).

SPEAKER: John-Paul Spiro

MARCH 22-23

PARIS IS BURNING

USA, 1990 | 78 minutes

Directed by Jennie Livingston

This landmark documentary on New York’s drag culture is “explosive, raucous, moving and fiercely alive” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

SPEAKER: Travis Foster

MARCH 29-30

GLORY

USA, 1989 | 122 minutes

Directed by Edward Zwick

Following the first all-Black volunteer Civil War regiment, Roger Ebert praised this film as “an unforgettable lesson in courage” (Chicago Sun-Times).

SPEAKERS: Saladin Ambar

Wednesday, March 11 | Thursday, March 12 | Friday, March 13  | All shows at 7 p.m.

Topper Theater of the John and Joan Mullen Center for Performing Arts

Bellow tells the extraordinary real-life story of one of Ireland’s foremost accordionists, Danny O’Mahony, a man who had dedicated his life to the preservation of traditional Irish music.

Now, after 40 years of breathing life into centuries-old tunes, Danny is finally taking a moment to stop and consider what this lifelong dedication has cost him. From the vibrant dance halls of his youth to the quiet solitude of late-night practice, Bellow weaves together past and present as Danny revisits pivotal moments in his life, his first taste of music as a child, the mentors who shaped him, and the unrelenting pursuit of mastery that left little room for little else. 

Alongside Danny’s sublime live accordion playing, Bellow features an original electronic composition by Valgier Siggurdson and contemporary dance. The result is an arresting theatre performance exploring the artist’s need to express their true self.

For tickets, please visit the Mullen Center Box Office. 

By Villanova Student Musical Theater

March 18-22, 2026
7:30pm showtime, 1pm Sunday
Court Theater

Little Women is a 19th-century novel by Louisa May Alcott about the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—as they grow from childhood to womanhood during the Civil War while their father is away. The story follows their individual journeys of love, loss and ambition, exploring themes of domesticity, morality and sisterhood.

For tickets, please visit the Mullen Center Box Office. 

Presented by: Student Performing Arts

March 27, 2026
7pm showtime
Court Theater

Nova Step Nation is Villanova University's first and only co-ed step team. Founded in 2022, the team focuses on synchronized movement, rhythm-based choreography, and structured formations that highlight precision and unity. Nova Step Nation seeks to promote cultural appreciation of stepping traditions, and positive representation within the campus and surrounding community

For tickets, please visit the Mullen Center Box Office. 

Presented By: Student Performing Arts

March 29, 2026
2pm showtime
Court Theater

The entirely student-run organization is a close-knit group of dancers who enjoy sharing their long-standing love for Irish dance, music, and culture with the entire Villanovan community.

For tickets, please visit the Mullen Center Box Office. 

We invite our neighbors to visit our recently launched Cabrini Campus website, which offers an overview of the campus and key project updates. This page will serve as the central source for information as the University prepares to open the campus next year.

Please note that while you may observe activity on campus, the campus remains closed. We ask that our neighbors refrain from walking or driving through campus as work continues. We look forward to welcoming you to Cabrini in the near future.

Campus updates and information on upcoming Neighbors meetings will be shared here in our newsletter and on our Facebook page.

Please reach out to Hally Ammons, Assistant Director for Government & Community Relations, at 610-519-7455 or hally.ammons@villanova.edu, with questions.

The Friends of Villanova program is offered by Villanova University to our neighbors in Radnor Township and select neighborhoods in Lower Merion Township that are contiguous to our main campus.

Residents of Radnor and select areas of Lower Merion may, for an annual fee of $60, access University facilities such as the Fitness Center at the Davis Center and the Pavilion Pool, on a limited recreational basis. 

If you are interested in joining the Friends of Villanova program, please apply online.  Please allow 3-5 business days for staff to complete the review and verification process. Once the process is complete, you will be notified of your status via email. 

Questions? Please contact neighbors@villanova.edu. 

Coming to campus? Know where to go using our Campus Map. Wondering what's happening on campus? Check our guide to noteworthy events to stay up-to-date. 

Please note that the use of recreational e-scooters and related motorized personal transportation devices on campus, including self-balancing one- or two-wheeled boards and motorized skateboards, is prohibited on campus. Electric mobility aids are exempted from this policy. 

The University's Off-Campus Living website contains pertinent information for students and community members about living in the community. The website also allows neighbors to submit an issue or concern directly through the website. Visit the Off-Campus Living website for more information. And be sure to check out our Villanova University Neighbor Updates Facebook Page! 

Contact Information

Hally Ammons, Assistant Director

Government & Community Relations

Phone: 610-519-7455

Email: hally.ammons@villanova.edu

800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085