<p>There are been four armed robberies near the University of Chicago in the last week. Three University of Chicago students and a school employee were robbed.</p>
<p>What do you think about the overall safety of the area? </p>
<p>I have personally never felt in danger on campus, and I am used to walking around campus alone (don’t do this) at 2:00 A.M. The University security personnel are very friendly to students and helpful if you feel unsafe for any reason. That is all I can say.</p>
<p>Hi
I am a new staff at UOC and would like to know if staying in the staff housing apartment is safe</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>“On-campus” safety is decent. You’re not very likely to get robbed in the middle of the quad, but go 3-4 blocks off campus in nearly any direction and your chances are far higher. Also, dorms were broken into last year… right on campus, so that’s a thing that is really scary. It was my dorm and it happened multiple times… knowing that you are not safe in your room in a dorm on campus is awful. It meant I always liked my door at night, I always had my shoes on in the dorm, etc. </p>
<p>In the area… your safety is dependent on you. Always assume you are “not” safe. I carry pepper spray on my keychain, take the shuttles, never listen to music alone after 10pm, walk on well lit streets by restaurants and such. </p>
<p>UChicago is in an large Urban metro area, any thing will happen and crime is everywhere, that is no difference from Columbia in Harlem, Upenn in Phily or USC in LA. You just have to be on alert, for the last 4 years, D had no incidents of crime at UChicago, so are all her friends. Can’t say it is low crime area, but campus security is very much prevalent at UChicago and there is a reason they distribute rape whistle at the orientation. </p>
<p>So safety and campus police are much better than when I grew up there 30 years ago. That said, it’s tough. You need to use more than a modicum of common sense. My dad who still lives there says crime rises significantly in the summer and the police are overstretched. My son is applying ED. If he’s admitted I will talk with him repeatedly about safety in urban areas. When we visited last summer I noticed a much more significant campus police presence. I like to think the University recognizes that crime is a detriment to their desirability. </p>