*Content warning: mentions of sexual assault
Several instances of sexual assault have shaken the Villanova community in recent years. Each incident reignites the same questions: Are students safe? Is the University doing enough to protect them?
One visible safety measure on campus is the blue emergency call light box. These are pole-mounted, security devices designed to provide a direct line of communication to campus police or emergency services. While the University’s placement of these is well-intended, it must take additional steps to ensure these resources are not only present but also effective.
“Emergency call boxes are located throughout the campus and parking lot areas in order to provide emergency assistance to the Villanova community,” a University statement read. “Call boxes offer a direct link to Public Safety to report an emergency, such as a suspicious person or circumstance, a medical emergency, or to request a safety escort.”
This language suggests widespread coverage. However, the reality is far more limited.
There are only 16 emergency call boxes scattered across the University. Each campus, including sports complexes, walking paths and parking garages, has at least one box. However, the distribution of boxes is uneven and difficult to locate.
For example, West Campus has four call boxes: two in the parking lots, one inside John F. Scarpa Hall at the law school and one near St. Mary’s Hall. Yet, all other dormitories remain without immediate access to an emergency device. In moments of panic, students should not have to wonder where the nearest call box is or have to travel up to 15 minutes to utilize one.
On prospective student tours, members of Blue Key are instructed to highlight that a member of Public Safety will respond to a call in 60-90 seconds. In doing so, they aim to assuage fears about safety, especially for students who will be walking at night. But what if a student can’t locate a box in the first place?
“I live in Jackson Hall, which is a bit removed from the academic and dining buildings on West [campus],” said junior Dianna Regan. “I honestly don’t know which call box I’d use in case of an emergency near my dorm.”
Regan’s uncertainty is alarming, particularly because research shows that many sexual assaults occur in or near residential buildings. If students cannot easily access emergency resources in these areas, the effectiveness of the University’s safety measures is fundamentally reduced.
The majority of call boxes are concentrated on Main Campus, but even there, spacing can leave significant gaps between high-traffic areas. Safety infrastructure should reflect student movement patterns, particularly at night, when students travel between dorms, libraries, dining halls and social spaces.
Furthermore, Villanova’s understanding of “campus” must evolve with student life.
The University should install call light boxes at the Villas of Bryn Mawr, colloquially known as “Props.” While these apartments are off-campus, hundreds of upperclassmen reside in them. The Wildcat Shuttle also services this location, providing a direct line of transit from campus. If the University recognizes this connection through transit services, it should extend meaningful safety infrastructure.
Emergency call boxes alone will not prevent sexual assault. Meaningful prevention requires education, accountability and cultural change. Still, 16 call boxes for a university of Villanova’s size is insufficient. Expanding the number would be a tangible, immediate step toward strengthening campus safety.
