On Jan. 23 and 24, rising sophomore students were able to take tours to see the new Cabrini Campus. With many students uncertain about the new campus, these tours provided the opportunity to learn more about what living and learning at Cabrini will entail.
Freshman Victoria Covino’s response to the campus, was shared by many.
“At first, I was very hesitant about the adjustment,” Covino said. “But now seeing the campus and all it has to offer, I definitely feel a lot more reassured.”
Students were taken on a charter bus to Cabrini, where their first stop was Xavier Hall, a new residence hall that features “clustered rooms.” This means two or four double rooms around a shared bathroom. Students were able to see these arrangements, as well as a lounge and community kitchen in the hall.
After seeing Xavier, students were driven past traditional residencies such as Thomas Hall, Sophomore Living and Leadership’s St. Josephine Hall and Honors suite-style housing in Francesca Hall.
The tour then stopped at Angelo Hall which features two double rooms or two double rooms and two singles connected by a shared bathroom. This was followed by a tour of Lecceto Hall, which has apartments for four, five or six students. These apartments have a full kitchen, living room and private bathroom.
Freshmen Preston Karrat, Michael Barravecchio and Jason Manzeloa are planning to room together in the fall and went into the tour wanting clarity on group housing at Cabrini.
“Seeing the different places and being able to determine what the bathroom and shower situation was like made it easier to picture where we are going to be living next year,” Karrat said.
Barravecchio echoed how insightful the tour was.
“Before the tour, I was majorly uninformed about what living here would look like,” Barravecchio said. “[The tour] definitely led me to understand the style of the rooms and how spacious they are. It was good to come here and actually see it. I feel more informed about making a decision on where to live next year.”
From the bus, students saw academic buildings, such as the Psychological and Brain Department’s Iadarola Center and the Communication Department’s Bellesini Hall. Students were also able to see buildings such as the chapel, Tagaste Hall, the former library for Cabrini that will now be a study space, the student center, Cascia Hall and amenities such as tennis, pickleball and basketball courts.
Manzeloa went into tours with an open mind despite the skepticism he had heard from friends around campus.
“Actually coming and experiencing it firsthand, seeing these great places to live and deepen your friendships and your education is super exciting,” Manzeloa said.
He “couldn’t ask for more” after seeing the Dixon Center’s opportunities for fitness.
The tour ended with a visit to the Dixon Center, which features an indoor pool, a suspended running track, basketball courts and fitness rooms. While here, students were able to sample food that will be available on Cabrini and speak with members of different departments regarding specific concerns.
Freshman senator for Student Government, Wyatt Nicholson, was concerned about feeling separate from Villanova, but was reassured after touring.
“They’ve completely transformed it, but it still feels inclusive,” Nicholson said. “It’s just opening up so many new doors and being able to learn how to live by myself.”
Concern surrounding the commute between campuses was shared by many students such as Janelle Daniels, but clarification provided by the tour made her feel more comfortable with the change.
Tour guides explained to students on the tour that buses used in the Cabrini shuttle system will be slightly larger than existing Wildcat Shuttle buses. These will be available later in the semester for students to see.
The shuttles will have two routes. Arrivals at stops will be every five to ten minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on weekdays. The weekend schedule has an 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. run time with stops every ten to fifteen minutes.
Schedules and real-time tracking of the shuttles will be available on the Tripshot app, and there will be employees at each stop. These employees will make adjustments for transport efficiency, such as radioing for another bus when there is a large quantity of students at a stop and rerouting in response to troublesome traffic.
The Tripshot app can also be used for students in need during late night and early morning times to request Nova Vans. The Mobility shuttle will run around the clock and off-campus shuttles will make stops at King of Prussia, Bryn Mawr and Wayne.
