The Riley Ellipse, or “the Oreo,” was surrounded by teal and purple on Saturday, April 12, 2025, as Occupy Villanova hosted a Rally Against Sexual Violence.
Occupy Villanova, a student group not affiliated with the University, aims to raise awareness against sexual violence on campus. The rally was planned in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness (SAPA) organization, The Space and Student Voices for Palestine (SVP).
Although the rally did not begin until noon, the participants began working at 10 a.m. Students met in Hovnanian Hall to design posters and express their shared feelings of frustration concerning the recent updates regarding the Juan Eguiguren case from 2022.
“All this should’ve been taken care of two years ago, and Villanova should have different policies that reflect protecting its students and its general body as a whole, instead of protecting predators and rapists,” said Caroline Keegan, Co-President of The Space.
Villanova’s administration issued a release to The Villanovan on Monday regarding the case and the outcome reached.
“Based on the concerns that have since been raised, we contacted the individual involved and he is no longer participating in Commencement,” the statement read. “It has been and remains our priority to respect the wishes of the survivor of this horrific incident and do everything we can to support the community.”
While Eguigeren will not be walking at Commencement, widespread frustration still exists amongst the student body. Thus, the rally was planned in less than a week to show support for the survivor from 2022 and for all survivors of sexual violence.
“We’re going to have a protest at noon with speeches and chants letting prospective families know what occurred and then also pressure Villanova to make changes to their policies,” said sophomore Marisa Canepa, a rally organizer.
Members of Occupy Villanova have curated a list of eight demands they hope the University will meet. Some members have already met with Title IX officials to present them.
“These demands essentially ask for accountability and protection for survivors rather than perpetrators and predators,” said Sophia Lemmons, Co-President of The Space. “[Villanova is] more concerned about preserving their image than actually helping survivors and promoting safety and wellbeing of students on campus.”
The demands have been specifically listed on the Occupy Villanova Instagram account and discussed during the demonstration. They ranged from formally barring the alleged offender from walking at graduation to removing him from University sanctioned housing. Additionally, they addressed broader institutional changes to how the University responds to sexual violence and supports survivors.
“Use Victim Advocacy Team to confidentially reevaluate all Title IX cases since 2020 to determine if the appropriate action was taken by the University,” one of the demands listed. “[And] Mandatory YEARLY sexual violence training for all University students, faculty, and staff.”
Surrounding the Oreo, students held signs, some of which read “Sexual assault should not be a part of anyone’s college experience,” “Survivors deserve justice. We deserve change” and “Protect survivors, not rapists.”
There were five featured speakers, some representatives from Occupy Villanova, others survivors of sexual violence. One survivor flew in from Florida specifically to speak. She shared her story of transferring out of Villanova after the administration failed to help pursue justice for her.
Between speeches, the rally’s organizers led chants to engage with the crowd. Some of these included, “No justice, no peace,” “Join together, let’s unite. Safe spaces are our right” and “No more silence, no more cries, we will not be victimized.”
As the demonstration went on, the group grew. Passersby stopped to join, and others watched from nearby.
Some of the Occupy Villanova representatives had invited the 6abc Action News team for media coverage. The team came in to cover the rally.
After an hour of speeches and chants, the large group paraded from the Oreo to the outside of the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition to the rally, throughout the day, members of Occupy Villanova tabled at the corner of Lancaster and Ithan Avenues in front of the Villanova University sign. They sought to inform students, especially prospective students and their families, about the current happenings on campus. They passed out flyers with information containing the necessary trigger warnings.
The days leading up to the demonstration were faced with anxiety from administration because Saturday was also Admitted Students Day.
“I think today is the perfect day because students should know what’s happening on campus, especially admitted students coming here and prospective students,” Raven Reid, senior Blue Key tour guide said. “They should also be aware that there are students on campus who care about these issues.”
Although the University did not directly address concerns about the demonstration’s timing, both students and administrators highlighted the importance of open dialogue and awareness.
“We abhor the behavior surrounding the assault that occurred in 2022, and there is no place for sexual violence on our campus,” the University wrote in its released statement to The Villanovan. “Villanova supports and advocates for freedom of discourse on campus as part of its mission as an institution of higher education and Augustinian Catholic University. As with all on-campus demonstrations, Villanova expects participants to engage respectfully and peacefully.”
One admitted student, Odessa Gianesin, said she appreciated the public display of student activism.
“Obviously, it’s important to see that people have a voice here, so that is a positive aspect,” Gianesin said. “But, obviously, it’s not as much of a positive aspect to hear about these kinds of things happening on campus, but it was great to see there are students that can stand up for themselves.”
Gianesin has not yet committed to a college. She reported that the demonstration at the Oreo would factor into her final decision.
Senior Akintade Asulu hopes that admitted students understand the importance of free speech.
“We are the reason that this University exists,” Asalu said. “You can’t have a university without its students. If the university is making a huge mistake or just doing something morally wrong, you have a responsibility and you have a right to call them out for it.”
The anger shared among the student body surely will not dissipate anytime soon. Some student attendees have reported that this is just the beginning of their fight.
On Monday, April 14, some organizers of Occupy Villanova emailed Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD., the University President, Ryan Rost, Villanova University’s Title IX Coordinator, Shannon Barnett, Villanova University Senior Deputy Title IX Coordinator and Title IX Case Manager and Kathleen Byrnes, Vice President for the Division of Student Life at Villanova. The students hoped to schedule a meeting and discuss their demands regarding sexual assault resources and safety on campus.
Byrnes had responded on behalf of the administration. The two groups are scheduled to meet the week after the students return from Easter break. Canepa has listed out her goals for this conversation.
“We’re gonna go over all of our demands and see what is and isn’t possible,” Canepa said. “What we’re focusing on is structural changes. So, like, the Victim Advocacy Team [The Office of Victim Advocate (OVA)], which are outside professionals who are not employed by the University, have no affiliation with Villanova, being present. And then also holding yearly sexual violence training. When survivors want to come back and readdress their cases, however many months or years later, that should be an option…always having communication with survivors about how they want the case to move forward.”
The rally was merely the beginning of Occupy Villanova’s long fight for justice.
