Villanova Special Olympics’ annual Fall Fest fills campus with a resounding sense of inclusion and kindness. Whether one is a part of the Special Olympics Committee that spends all year planning the event, or simply a student passing through, it is difficult not to embrace this sense of community that surrounds the weekend. Yet, once the athletes leave for the weekend, this spirit of inclusion often fades with them. While the primary goal of Fall Fest is to create an environment where athletes can compete at their best and feel supported by our community, its greater purpose extends beyond the weekend itself. This atmosphere of acceptance and love that defines Fall Fest is meant to inspire Villanovans to carry those same values into their everyday lives, so that the sense of inclusion felt during this weekend becomes a way of life.
Fall Fest is a unique event that truly reflects the values of veritas, caritas and unitas constantly touted by the University. Unlike many Villanova events, its purpose is not to directly benefit students, attract families or raise money. Instead, it is meant to celebrate a community of people that is too often overlooked.
When committing to Villanova, many students (if not all) are well aware that the University hosts the largest student-run Special Olympics event in the world. This fact is proudly shared during tours and at admissions events, so when committing, students should understand that the values embodied by such an event should define campus life year-round. Yet, so many times, through all the other weekends of the year, this is not the case. Villanovans must take a more proactive approach to ensuring that the mission of inclusion extends beyond this one weekend.
Villanova’s Special Olympics’ DEI and Awareness committee is tasked with fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for attendees during the weekend of the event but also spreading this mission to the wider student body during the rest of the year. This committee creates and shares a lot of accessible resources that make it easy for students to learn. By simply following their account on Instagram, @spreadthewordinclusion, students can gain access to educational posts about disability awareness, inclusive practices and the history behind the inclusion movement. Beyond that, Villanova offers many opportunities through campus organizations throughout the year, such as Best Buddies, Unified Sports Club and LEVEL. While Villanovans do not necessarily need to participate in these activities to foster this sense of inclusion, ignorance about these topics is not an excuse for exclusionary language or attitudes here at Villanova, with this many resources available.
“As Villanovans, it’s not just our responsibility but our privilege to carry that mission of inclusion forward in all that we do,” Ella Bergschneider, DEI and Awareness Chair, said.
With DEI initiatives and other practices of inclusion under attack right now, these events and the opportunity we have at Villanova to create spaces where every person can feel seen and celebrated should not be taken lightly and should be experiences that students choose to embrace. Simple, everyday habits, like meeting people where they are and showing kindness in our interactions, go a long way. These habits then turn into consistent actions that make inclusion a part of our culture.
And, beyond Villanova, students should aim to continue to integrate these values into their professional and personal lives after graduation. Taking time to understand others’ lived experiences can expose individuals to new perspectives and inform decisions they would have never otherwise made. University values are meant to be carried with Villanovans for the rest of their lives. Inclusion is at the heart of these values. And they call us to action by creating spaces where everyone can feel respected and valued.
The world is a better, kinder and more informed place when people choose to include 365 days of the year.
