August 23, 2025

Imagine a calm university campus suddenly turning into a scene of chaos! That’s exactly what happened at Villanova University in Pennsylvania on the first day of new student orientation. Around 4:30 pm, an emergency alert blasted across campus, ordering everyone to "move to a secure location" and "lock/barricade doors." The alert singled out Scarpa Hall, the law school building, warning people to stay away. The Radnor Township Police quickly arrived and urged students and local residents to shelter in place. Social media exploded with posts showing frightened students hiding in classrooms and utility closets, waiting anxiously for news. Police and even federal agents rushed to Villanova. They canvassed buildings and crowded the campus with emergency vehicles, ready for the worst. But guess what? It turned out to be a "cruel hoax," just as Villanova University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue explained later. No shooter, no victims, just a chilling false alarm that spread terror among about 1,800 new students who had arrived the day before and the entire campus community. The timing couldn’t have been worse, right before classes started. Governor Josh Shapiro and other officials begged people to stay away and respect the work of law enforcement. The university promised to review its emergency plans to avoid such stressful events in the future. Still, the police are digging deep to find who was behind this scary prank and why. Until then, Villanova remains on high alert but safe. What a rollercoaster day for students and staff!

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Tags: Villanova university, Active shooter hoax, Campus lockdown, Emergency alert, Law enforcement response,