<p>When I visited Nova, I really loved the campus but hated how South was "so far" from everything else and the campus seemed kinda dingy and ugly. I know its not that long of a walk, but what if your at a greek party on the main campus one night, have to walk home late, and run into trouble. On Nova's website, it even describes an event that happened with a man and a gun and South...there were lockdowns or something. Do occurences like this happen a lot? How worried should I be about safety for that first year at South?</p>
<p>My D is now a junior and lived on South Campus as a freshman. Almost all the freshmen are housed there and you really get to meet the kids in your class. My D thinks those freshmen housed elsewhere on campus are at a disadvantage in meeting other freshmen. The dorms may seem ugly and dingy, but they are air conditioned. (the dorms on the main campus are not) The dining hall on South(called the "Spit") is supposedly better than the dining hall on main (called the "Pit"). Have you seen the dorms for sophmores in the Quad??? Now those rooms are ugly and dingy. Some sophmores prefer to stay in South. Also, greek parties are usually off campus so you won't be walking home late. You'll be getting a ride or taking a cab. The incident with the man and a gun happened in a residential neighborhood near South Campus. The did lock down the dorms for security reasons and as a parent I was very glad. This was an isolated incident and safety has never been a concern for me or my D. If you have any other questions, please feel to ask.</p>
<p>I have a related question. Since the South dorms are a walk from the main campus, what happens if you are studying late at the library? Is it safe to walk back at night?</p>
<p>That's the concern I have. I know the area's not as dangerous or sketchy as downtown Philadelphia would be, but I'm sure incidents could happen. Is there an escort service (and do people actually use it)? Do lots of students walk back late with no problems? I'm just not that familiar with the neighborhood and don't know how worried I should be because it seems inevitable that I will be in the library late or something and will hve to walk back late at night sometimes...</p>
<p>Certainly understand your concern. The walk from Main Campus to South is very well lit during the evening. There is security that will escort you if you need it. My D never studied in the library. She used the lounges in the dorms and the SPIT stays open late for studying. Many students also use Bartley Business building which is very close to South Campus. The library is on the opposite side of campus. Unless you need to use the library, all the other places I've mentioned work out very well.
Remember, incidents can happen anywhere.</p>
<p>thanks momsworried. I feel completely fine about it now.</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman in the fall and at the April 12th "look/see" a student told us that there are shuttles that run every half hour around the whole campus at night. Also, my daughter graduated in 2005, lived in Stanford and LOVED it. She studied at Bartley and there was always a buddy with whom she could walk back. We are hoping that my son gets a room in Stanford...it is the place to be as a freshman, you will meet "everyone" there!!! In the four years my daughter was there, I can't think of one instance on campus that was threatening to her. In fact, as a senior she lived off campus and the Radnor police were always a presence and we did not worry about her at all. Hopefully you will LOVE Villanova as much as she did!!!</p>
<p>i just finished freshmen year and south campus was great
the dorms are big, especially in good counsel
the SPIT, the dining hall on south, is really good and there is a market on south
the walk may seem far at first but you get used to it and its not that bad since most freshmen live on south
regarding the shuttle, the shuttle stops running at 1:00am if you are at the library later you can call public safety and they will bring you back to your dorm...but i have walked back to south during the night and i have felt perfectly safe
and regarding parties on main and having to walk there - that won't be a problem because frat houses are off campus so most parties you will go to are either off campus or will be in someone's room on south
south campus is great and i loved living year especially since you get to know your class really well</p>