@phollowayokc - I have had the opportunity to live in the great city of New Orleans for the past 4 years (as a TU student). Below is my honest opinion about the safety/security I feel as a student at Tulane:
In terms of on campus safety, I have never felt unsafe walking through campus. Obviously, Tulane has a large number of resources in place to ensure the safety of their students on campus. Between the blue light system, 80+ TUPD officers patrolling campus, and a ‘virtual safety escort’ service Tulane provides its students with superior safety/security!
In terms of off-campus safety, Tulane is located in a city and therefore has its ‘city problems’ like all other cities. My sister went to NYU and I remember my parents always told her to walk in groups. I think most people would say the same about New Orleans. Although I have never personally been in a situation that would cause me to feel unsafe off campus, I ensure that I am being smart and aware of my surroundings. Tulane students will get alerts about crime that takes place off campus; it’s inevitable when you live in a city. The Tulane Police Department monitors a mile radius off campus as well, which means that the majority of off-campus residents still will see TUPD (along with NOPD) patrolling their streets. Off-campus students also love using TapRides which is a free ‘uber type service’ for Tulane students. This service allows TU students to request a ride back to their home/dorm/campus if they do not feel like walking back or taking a cab back.
I do not want to say that NOLA is crime-proof, because it is not. Fortunately, Tulane’s priority is the safety of its students and this can be seen through all of the amazing resources they offer. Tulane does an excellent job at taking a very proactive approach when it comes to the safety of its students. There is crime/homicide in New Orleans, which is why Tulane takes the safety of its students extremely seriously.