Cross designs on bridge draw fire from some in Radnor
RADNOR >> On the advice of the township solicitor, the Design Review Board at a recent meeting did not discuss four crosses that Villanova University officials plan to place on the ends of the pedestrian bridge that will span Lancaster Avenue linking the new dormitories with the main campus.
The board had recommended approval for the design of the bridge at its meeting last month but held back on the issue of the crosses after members of the public voiced objections to religious objects being placed on a bridge that traverses a public highway.
Two of the four metal crosses — each 4 feet, 7 inches tall — will be on 32-foot pedestals flanking either end of the bridge, outside the public right-of-way and on the university’s property. The
In his remarks, Solicitor Peter Nelson said that if the Design Review Board discussed the crosses it would subject the township to “charges that we are violating Villanova’s free exercise (of religion) clause rights as well as state and federal statues protecting the free exercise of religion.”
Township commissioners were expected to vote on the crosses Monday night. crosses will not be illuminated.
In the meantime, while members of the Design Review Board weren’t talking, the public was.
Roberta Winters spoke about how universities are now more conscious of branding and marketing and wondered if the “ornamentation of bridge was designed for such a purpose.” She noted that the board had already approved the bridge design that includes university seals at its apex on each side. She asked if the township should be compensated for advertising the university.
Jane Galli, another resident, said that she is concerned about the size of the crosses and their position. “To me, it’s excessive,” she said. Susan Smith, another neighbor said, “This bridge really disturbs me. The size of it and the safety of it concern me first. The crosses disturb me second. I don’t think if we had Beth Hillel University down the street in the next block that we would like to see the Star of David on that.”
While crosses on the buildings and church are fine, having them “on a public state highway is excessive,” she said.
Resident Rick Leonardi said was a constitutional question.
“Villanova seeks to apply its iconography on a public structure,” he said. “This is unconstitutional on its face. There is a reason drivers on I-476 are not subjected to Bible verses painted on the sound walls lining the roadway or that there is no crescent moon next to the griffin on the Blue Route, that the overpasses are not emblazoned with Stars of David. People can and frequently do post Bible verses on billboards adjacent to public roadways but those billboards are private, commercial structures. And the advertiser is paying to convey his message. The bridge over Lancaster Avenue is not a billboard and should not be used to advertise Villanova’s corporate logo and it definitely should not carry the university’s overtly religious message. If the township it wishes, nevertheless, to expose itself to the kind of First Amendment complaint that will follow placing crosses then let the board of commissioners assume that responsibility … and let that privilege not be given away for free.”
After the meeting, Chris Kovolski, assistant vice president for government relations and external affairs for Villanova, said that the university is within its rights to display the crosses and those symbols are “appropriate and reflective of the Catholic, Christian nature of the institution.”
“The pedestrian bridge at Church Walk is a multimillion dollar project and just one part of the overall transformation of Villanova’s main parking lots,” he said. “Some aspects of the bridge construction are still out to bid so the final costs are still being determined. The university has received state grant support that covers a portion of the constructions costs.”