Halloween Robbery Raises Campus Safety Concerns

On Halloween night, as students across SUNY Old Westbury prepared for costumes and parties, a robbery was reported inside Woodland Residence Hall 2. According to University police, around 8 p.m., three masked individuals entered the building and robbed residents at gunpoint.

In the days following the incident, many students said they were unaware that the robbery had even occurred. Although University Police sent out email notifications with limited information, questions remain about how effectively campus crime is communicated. The lack of clarity has raised broader concerns about the relationship between students and University Police (UPD) and how that disconnect may affect safety on campus.

While the Halloween robbery drew attention, it was not an isolated incident. According to the university’s official incident log, multiple violent and property crimes were reported on campus throughout the Fall 2025 semester. 

Chronologically, some of the more serious events include a robbery on August 25 that led to an arrest; a grand larceny on September 18; a sex offense on September 22 that led to an arrest; an assault on September 29; an assault on October 7 that led to an arrest; an obstruction on October 21 that led to an arrest; a grand larceny on October 29; a robbery on October 31 that led to an arrest; criminal mischief reported on November 5; a grand larceny on November 7; and another report of criminal mischief on November 20. In addition, thirteen reports of harassment, sexual assault, or domestic incidents were filed during the same semester, some of which resulted in arrests. December’s report is still in progress.

Court records from the New York State Unified Court System confirm that junior, Fallou Sall, was arrested on November 5, 2025, in connection with the October 31 robbery. According to the records, the arrest was made by the Old Westbury Village Police Department. An internal UPD incident report states that Sall was charged with four felony counts and three misdemeanor charges, including second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary involving the display of a firearm. The case is currently pending in Nassau District Court in Mineola, with a next court appearance scheduled for December 16, 2025.

Many students who feel unprotected on campus question how effectively University Police respond to serious incidents. J.M., a senior living in Woodland Hall 4, said the biggest issue is “allowing anyone to come on campus.” JM recounted hearing about a student who was beaten in the parking lot. “They drove onto campus and beat somebody up with a lock… I heard it from a friend who watched,” she said. She added that it seemed nobody ever found out what happened to him.

Another violent crime, this time reported, occurred last year. “Some guy and his friends jumped a girl for her phone in broad daylight,” JM said. She recalled UPD responding by asking residents, “‘Have you seen guys that ran in here?’”

JM also described a theft involving a friend’s ex, whose belongings were stolen while using the bathroom. “He went to the bathroom for like 30 seconds and then he came back, everything was stolen.” After reporting the incident, she said staff told them, “The security cameras don’t work.” She connected this to a 2022 incident when someone broke into her dorm and she was told, “The cameras don’t stretch that far.” No action was taken even though her property was damaged, seemingly because she had violated the university’s no-dog policy.

When asked how she views University Police, JM said, “They don’t do anything but give parking tickets. They care more about your parking tickets.. and smoking weed.. rather than actual crime being committed.” She also recalled a domestic violence incident involving a neighboring student that was reported to UPD. “After the attack this man was back on campus… he banged her head into the wall a couple times and scratched up her face… he’s still here,” she said.

Danielle Headley, a 2025 graduate who previously commuted to campus, echoed these concerns. “Sexual assault during the time I was on campus was one of the biggest issues,” she said. “I feel like people got slaps on the wrists or they were never held accountable.”

I live in Woodland Hall 2 and was in my room when the Oct. 31 robbery happened. In the day after, UPD was more visible around the dorm and rules felt more strictly enforced, but by the following week, residents said things were mostly back to normal. Over my two years here, I’ve known about a few physical fights and heard about multiple cases of harassment or sexual assault, all taking place within residential areas. According to Hall 2 RA, Justin Standard, UPD now conducts rounds following the Halloween incident.

The role of ResLife in maintaining safety in the dorms is also important to explore. Standard said resident assistants and desk attendants collaborate with UPD when reporting incidents. “Our job is to just report not to be superheroes… We report to UPD your side and then we let them do their part.” 

First-floor RA Deborah Saintvilus, who reported the Halloween robbery, said, “I don’t feel the safest, but I will say UPD responds very fast and as an RA I’ve seen that firsthand.” She noted that working for the university has shifted her perspective. “Now being on the other side I see that they be putting parameters in check to keep people safe. It's really individual people that break the rules and make it unsafe.”

Saintvilus and Standard both said RAs are well trained in cases of conflict. “During training we do a lot of different scenarios,” Saintvilus said. However, she also described a lack of communication between higher administration and RAs that affects residents. “This is not even just with situations as severe as theft or violence, it can be the littlest thing as your blinds are broken. The second that we report up, nothing gets reported down the ladder…I most likely won't even know if the situation was resolved.”

At the same time, RAs are students themselves. RA Tiana said many residents “take for granted” the generosity of RAs, which leads to rules being broken. While some violations go without consequences, others carry serious risks, like carrying a firearm. “I feel like that should have never happened,” Tiana said, “there should have been more safety measures.”

The October 31 robbery had the potential to escalate further, yet no local reporting on the incident was found. Many students said they were barely informed and had come not to expect updates. University Police confirmed one suspect and charges associated with the Oct. 31 robbery but did not answer questions about safety procedures, crime trends, or student participation despite repeated requests for comment. 

Together, the reporting and student accounts point to ongoing questions about communication, accountability, and coordination between University Police, ResLife, and students, and how those factors affect campus safety. It also brings light to the broader breakdown in trust between students and University Police. Multiple students I have asked expressed skepticism toward UPD’s role, while others described enforcement that feels selective or disconnected from serious safety concerns. Generally students who do not trust or respect UPD may be less likely to report crimes, share information, or cooperate during investigations. Without trust, communication, or accountability, campus safety can become reactive rather than protective and students are left to navigate the gaps on their own.