I have great respect for people who can stand up and let their voices and ideas be heard. Even if that idea is not right or widely accepted, it still takes guts. For this reason, I give credit to anyone who has the guts to utter the word “Villa-no-fun.” Nevertheless, that person is wrong.

Simply stated, it isn’t that Villanova students don’t know how to have fun, it’s the fact that these critics have no clue what fun is. So, I dedicate this column to those individuals who criticize Villanova’s diversions, or lack thereof.

This past Saturday students, both of past and present, came together to celebrate Homecoming Weekend. We packed Villanova Stadium for our football game, and although we may not have secured a win over Towson, we did secure our places in the ‘Nova Nation.

Two hours later, the Spires, Haveners, Vocal Minority and Sirens commanded their own fan base. Every year these phenomenal a cappella groups draw large crowds to a lecture hall in the basement of the engineering school building.

Less than 12 hours later, over 80 new members of the Blue Key Society were in Mendel Hall being trained by veteran members to give volunteer tours to prospective students. Meanwhile, other current students addressed alumni and their sons and daughters on a Legacy Day Panel. Before noon, all of those in attendance found themselves on tours with Blue Key’s veteran members.

As a veteran member of the Blue Key Society, I was honored to have the opportunity to engage in this weekend’s events that brought together generations of Villanova students. At the conclusion of my tour, a couple of alumnae who are now mothers broke down in tears. Although the University has made improvements and is a different place than it was 20 years ago, the spirit- that awesome, ineffable feeling you get as a Villanovan-always stays the same. That spirit can only be found at Villanova.

Homecoming Weekend is one of the most anticipated and unique weekends of the year. It’s a time meant for honoring the past, celebrating the present and anticipating the future. It’s a time to relive old memories and create new ones. And despite what Villanova-no-fun critics say, it is fun.

The weekend concluded with three packed masses at the St. Thomas of Villanova Church, where the community gathers every week to restore their hearts and engage in a spirituality that can only be found at Villanova.

However, the festivities did not begin on Saturday. Last Thursday night marked the VU Student Theatre opening of “You Can’t Take it With You.” This is just another example of Villanova students who have extraordinary talent and are driven by their love and passion for what they do.

And no one will ever forget the events that transpired on that Friday night in which a priest, a basketball coach, his team, the NFL on FOX crew and two individuals by the names of Tony Yayo and 50 Cent caused a wave of hysteria to spread across the Pavilion.

On Oct. 17 the All-American Rejects performed in the Jake Nevin Field house. Think about that. The All-American Rejects, a mainstream band widely popular among college-aged students, was overshadowed in less than a week. How often does that happen on a college campus?

As Villanova’s past, present and future crossed paths this weekend, I was reminded why I would never want to be anywhere else but here. I also realized just how fast college passes us by and how important it is that we embrace Villanova and all of the opportunities it has to offer. Obviously, we can’t expect a visit from G-Unit every week, but at the very least, we can expect to have fun.

Speak up, but certainly not only at Villanova.