Urban campuses & CRIME

[Anonymous]

For those of you with students attending universities situated in high crime areas of various cities, can you share what your university does to help keep kids safe from muggings as they walk off-campus?

Would love to hear stories about what’s worked vs not worked. Thank you so much.

[Anonymous]

Be aware of your surroundings and travel another person in late evenings. Also if your paranoid about crime, your kid should probably take certain schools off their list. But my DD went to school in a somewhat unsafe neighborhood and worst thing that happened was her bike got stolen from inside.

[Anonymous]

Best of both worlds: a contained college campus that’s located in a walkable suburb right outside a major city, with easy transit options.

[Anonymous]

You are kidding yourself if you think that a private university has ANY control over risk beyond their campus perimeter.

Columbia and the U of Chicago can’t fix NY or Chicago. Temple can’t fix Philadelphia.

And college students tend not to use the best judgement when choosing between having fun and being safe.

(I am very glad that my kid went to college ina forgiving environment.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be aware of your surroundings and travel another person in late evenings. Also if your paranoid about crime, your kid should probably take certain schools off their list. But my DD went to school in a somewhat unsafe neighborhood and worst thing that happened was her bike got stolen from inside.

Okay. She did not get raped or murdered, therefore…???????

[Anonymous]

OP back. No, I’m talking about 20-year-old young men being held at gunpoint, being shot, death threats as part of attempted robberies etc. My kid went to HS in DC - he’s “not worried,” but it sucks to have a friend undergoing multiple surgeries due to gun shots. This week there have been at least three gun involved muggings, and it is finals week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are kidding yourself if you think that a private university has ANY control over risk beyond their campus perimeter.

Columbia and the U of Chicago can’t fix NY or Chicago. Temple can’t fix Philadelphia.

And college students tend not to use the best judgement when choosing between having fun and being safe.

(I am very glad that my kid went to college ina forgiving environment.)

OP here. Yeah, this is the kind of stuff I’m talking about - Philly, Chicago, NY.

Does it help if the school has an official police department rather than just “public safety?”
Should we get media more involved? City mayor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP back. No, I’m talking about 20-year-old young men being held at gunpoint, being shot, death threats as part of attempted robberies etc. My kid went to HS in DC - he’s “not worried,” but it sucks to have a friend undergoing multiple surgeries due to gun shots. This week there have been at least three gun involved muggings, and it is finals week.

Where is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with students attending universities situated in high crime areas of various cities, can you share what your university does to help keep kids safe from muggings as they walk off-campus?

Would love to hear stories about what’s worked vs not worked. Thank you so much.

Young men may need to learn the safety tips that young woman have to incorporate every day of their lives to avoid sexual assault and murder. The college may provide security on campus and rides even off campus. But ultimately the students need to take standard city precautions. I’d love for my kid to choose a safer campus but if not, she’ll be worried about more than muggings. But I will tell her to hand over her money and carry at least $20. For women, even campus security escorts aren’t necessarily safe.

[Anonymous]

The overwhelming majority of college students don’t get murdered or even mugged, OP. Relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The overwhelming majority of college students don’t get murdered or even mugged, OP. Relax.

PP, I’m on a parent’s page where this is an ongoing discussion. We are living it. Don’t tell me not to worry. Tell me what we can do to help our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those of you with students attending universities situated in high crime areas of various cities, can you share what your university does to help keep kids safe from muggings as they walk off-campus?

Would love to hear stories about what’s worked vs not worked. Thank you so much.

Young men may need to learn the safety tips that young woman have to incorporate every day of their lives to avoid sexual assault and murder. The college may provide security on campus and rides even off campus. But ultimately the students need to take standard city precautions. I’d love for my kid to choose a safer campus but if not, she’ll be worried about more than muggings. But I will tell her to hand over her money and carry at least $20. For women, even campus security escorts aren’t necessarily safe.

OP here. Thank you, pp. This is helpful advice.

[Anonymous]

Drug OD, car accident, and suicide are the actual big threats. They all go way down for kids in environments they enjoy. If that's a "dangerous city," cool, go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The overwhelming majority of college students don’t get murdered or even mugged, OP. Relax.

PP, I’m on a parent’s page where this is an ongoing discussion. We are living it. Don’t tell me not to worry. Tell me what we can do to help our kids.

Have them live at home and take online classes. Or get therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best of both worlds: a contained college campus that’s located in a walkable suburb right outside a major city, with easy transit options.

This is absolutely the sweet spot, but crime can happen anywhere. Look at Idaho and Charlottesville. UChicago, Hopkins, some NYC schools really try to secure the campus, but students should be very prepared to be street smart and avoid risky situations.