National Night Out Returns to Drexel on Aug. 4

It's been a fun-filled summer across the city.

From international soccer to celebrating America's 250th anniversary to the MLB All-Star festivities, Philadelphia and the Drexel community have shown their pride in hosting visitors from all over the nation. Now we hope you have time for one more event to add to your schedule: Drexel Public Safety (DPS)'s annual National Night Out.

DPS welcomes all students, faculty, professional staff and community members to join us for a night of fun, informational resources, food and live music on Aug. 4, 5-8 p.m., on Lancaster Walk.

National Night Out is a community-building campaign to enhance relationships between neighbors and law enforcement. This year, DPS promises another enjoyable event as we welcome back local agencies and community partners for an opportunity to promote safety and foster camaraderie. Back by popular demand will be The Groove City Band, featuring Drexel Police Officer Chuck Hendricks, so make sure you bring your dancing shoes!

Congratulations, Graduates!

Last month, Drexel University had its Commencement officially graduating new members of the Dragon family. Hats off to the Class of 2026!

Some of those graduating students were members of DPS who balanced schoolwork with their professional work at the University. We'd like to give a special congratulations to the hardworking Drexel Public Safety employees who reached this special milestone:

• Director of Communications and Accreditation Manager Caneshia Bailey, bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in customer relations and client development from Goodwin College of Professional Studies.
• Police Officer Sean McCallion, master's in legal studies from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law.
• Former Dispatcher Lovetta Hill, bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in cybersecurity, minor in psychology from Goodwin College.
• Dispatcher Leah Freiling, master's in emergency threat response management from Rowan University.

Market Street Construction: Be Prepared for Detours

With Philadelphia's big summer of events coming to a close, Market Street in University City will soon resume being a hub of construction activity. After Aug. 7, the Market Street bridge over the Schuylkill River will close to vehicular traffic for approximately 14 months, until October 2027, as part of PennDOT's Market Street Bridges Rehabilitation Project. A few blocks west, SEPTA will be resuming street-level improvements to its 34th Street Station, which will necessitate traffic control and lane restrictions. Motorists are advised to plan ahead for detours and delays associated with these projects.

In preparation for the bridge closure, PennDOT has announced the following travel restrictions:

• July 20-23, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., I-76 West will be closed and detoured between the 30^th Street and I-676 interchanges for bridge construction. Drivers will be directed to exit at 30th Street and travel west on Schuylkill Avenue to access the ramps to I-76 West (Schuylkill Expressway) and I-676 East.
• July 20 through Aug. 20, the center lane will be closed on Market Street between Schuylkill Avenue and 30th Street for utility construction. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times.

To receive real-time updates on potential impacts to the University's free bus service, download Drexel Transit, powered by the TripShot app, for iOS or Android. The app offers trip planning and real-time notifications, alerts and Drexel shuttle tracking. On the Setup screen, enter "Drexel" as the Service Name and click Next. Select "Log in with Drexel Connect" and sign in with your

Drexel user ID and password (the same credentials you use to access the DrexelOne portal).

Protect Your Vehicles From Theft

Thefts of motor vehicles and electric bikes and scooters continue to be among the most common crimes impacting the Drexel community, particularly on the University City Campus. Drexel Public Safety has a new safety tips webpage providing information about how to prevent motor vehicle thefts, and what to do if you are the victim of this crime. Here are some highlights:

• Always lock your vehicle, close all windows and sunroof, and take your keys.
• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended.
• Use theft-deterrents such as:
  • Steering wheel lock (Drexel Police are providing a limited number of free steering wheel locks to students, faculty and staff; visit headquarters at 3219 Arch St. to arrange for one)
  • Car alarm or kill switch
  • On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) lock
  • Faraday bag to protect your keys
• Park in busy, well-lit areas.
• Register your bicycle or scooter at Drexel Police Headquarters at 3219 Arch Stand receive a bicycle lock.
• Use Drexel Parking Services' designated electric scooter racks throughout campus to properly secure your device.
• Don't leave spare keys in or on your vehicle. Store spare keys elsewhere, such as your wallet or purse.

If your vehicle is stolen, contact the Drexel Police Department at 215.895.222 or Philadelphia Police at 9-1-1 and be prepared to provide:

• License plate number and vehicle year, make, model, VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and color
• Date, time, location you last saw your vehicle
• Date and time you discovered your vehicle missing
• Whether you subscribe to a vehicle tracking service, such as Lojack or OnStar

Campus Security Authority Training

Under the federal Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), a Campus Security Authority is an individual within the university community who, due to their job function, has significant responsibility for student and campus activities, security or crime reporting. Based on this criteria, Drexel Public Safety has identified CSAs within the Drexel community and is providing mandatory training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities as CSAs and provide them with the necessary information and tools to effectively fulfill their duties. This training is being provided as an online enterprise learning module, and CSAs who are required to complete the training will receive official notification from Public Safety and Career Pathway.

If you have been identified as a CSA and have any questions or concerns, you are invited to a virtual roundtable discussion. This session will provide an opportunity for you to ask questions and receive further clarification about your responsibilities as a CSA. You can register for the roundtable in Career Pathway. Should you have any immediate questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Clery Compliance Office at [email protected].

Community Commitments

Dornsife Dinners

Stop by Drexel Public Safety's resource table at one of the monthly community dinners held at the Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships. We provide safety resources, raffle off refurbished bicycles, and welcome friendly conversation with our neighbors.

Sign Up for a Self-Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) Class Today!

This program aims to give the Drexel community practical skills, resources and mindset to increase personal safety through three-hour, hands-on classes that are open to any student, faculty or staff member. Classes are offered on specific Tuesdays and Saturdays each month.

• What to Expect: Classes begin with an overview of safety mindsets and reporting processes. Instructors then guide you through stances, patterns of movement, striking techniques (like palm strikes), and defenses against grabs or chokes.
• How to Join: Email [email protected] to register for an upcoming class. You can also request a class  if you have a larger group that you would like to schedule outside of these monthly class dates. 
• Bring a Buddy: Due to the hands-on nature of the training, we strongly recommend registering with a fellow Dragon. While participation in physical techniques is recommended, it is not required.

We Are Here for You When You Need Us

Please call 215.895.2222 immediately if you experience or witness a crime. Drexel's Public Safety Communications Center is staffed 24/7 to serve you, whether or not you choose to remain anonymous when making a report. It is vital that crimes are reported promptly to Drexel Police so that they can be investigated, and so that Public Safety can connect the victim(s) with proper resources. You can also contact DPS through the Drexel Guardian app. Drexel Guardian will not track you nor share your information unless you initiate an emergency. To download the app, search for "Rave Guardian" in the app store or Google Play store.

Emergency Numbers

215.895.2222 or 911
TTY: 445.221.5436

Walking Escorts

215.895.2222