Are You Safe at Saint Vincent College

No matter how robust the police force, you simply can’t stop crime from spilling over to college communities that have metropolitan campuses. Look at any university’s annual crime report, and you’ll discover much higher numbers than schools with rural or suburban locales. It’s not surprising that prospective students and their parents are enticed by the safe, self-contained grounds of an institution like Saint Vincent College, which calls a modest yet beautiful 200 acres of land in Latrobe, Pennsylvania home. The Roman Catholic liberal arts college founded in 1846 by a German monk has quite the uplifting motto: Truth, justice, and wisdom will conquer. It’s not just intellect that will keep you safe in these parts, but that does help. The school uses many things to its advantage, from geography and a low headcount to well-defined safety measures. Continue reading if you’re thinking of becoming a Bearcat in the near future.

As mentioned above, Saint Vincent College has a very small amount of undergraduates on its campus. Numbers vary slightly from year to year, but there were just 1,766 scholars in 2014. That’s one of the lowest enrollment figures we’ve ever seen. However, it comes in handy in terms of safety because it’s much easier to enforce rules and roll out protocols to a smaller group. Incoming freshmen are briefed on security during their orientation, while prefects known as RAs elsewhere offer presentations with more information. You’ll discover posters and pamphlets around campus with tips or reminders. The most common offense on school grounds is theft. We won’t say that the school is “inherently” safe, but its history as both a seminary and monastery begets a certain tranquility that’s rooted in strict principles.

Is it easy to know when something is going on? You bet. An emergency message system that includes text and email notifications, along with an outdoor siren, keeps students informed. Additionally, a number of public safety officers and campus police officers can be approached if you’re in trouble or need to make a report. Officers from both groups are regarded as cordial and more than approachable, which isn’t always the norm.

Your residence hall, a home away from home in every way, is a place where you’ll spend a lot of time. It’s where you eat, sleep, study, and hang out, so you have to feel comfortable. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered schools that are deemed unsafe by students simply because their halls aren’t locked down enough. This kind of environment, where people can come and go with ease, often leads to instances of robbery or assault. Saint Vincent College keeps residence hall doors locked down 24 hours a day, and the exterior doors are secured using state-of-the-art proximity locks that are specially linked to a student’s identification card. Student rooms use key-operated deadbolts.

Partying, a cultural aspect that’s associated with collegiate life, is kept to a minimum compared to other universities we’ve looked into. Part of this, remember, has to do with Saint Vincent College’s religious affiliations. Literature on safety says that the school would prefer its students to abstain from alcohol or drug use outright. There are strict consequences for underage students who don’t abide by these rules. Less emphasis on partying has resulted in a quiet and rather calm campus. This is undoubtedly a plus for certain individuals.

If you’re in need of medical attention, the school’s wellness center is the place to go, with a full staff of counselors and nurses. Given the location and size of the campus, doctors make several weekly trips rather than maintaining daily hours. A major shortcoming of the center is that it isn’t open on weekends, leaving students to either delay treatment or find transportation to a nearby hospital.

Saint Vincent College epitomizes pastoral beauty with its winding paths, steeple-top buildings, and emerald trees. It’s a peaceful campus that’s kept very safe by the philosophies of students and administrators alike, along with campus police and a wellness center that’s easy to get to. Should you choose to don the colors of blue and silver, safety will be nothing more than a fleeting thought. Do you want to know more about the school? We suggest you peruse our article on five things you should know before attending.

Ryan James is a ’13 alumnus of Ohio University’s College of Arts & Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in writing and media. He currently works as a copywriter for a Fortune 500 e-commerce corporation based in Columbus, OH.