<p>I was exploring the "College P.rowler" website tonight when I noticed that Duke is ranked literally at the bottom of the list for Campus Security and Safety. Can this ranking be taken seriously? Why would it receive such a low score? What do current students think about campus security?</p>
<p>Durham is not really a very safe city, but personally, I've never felt unsafe on campus, never been robbed/mugged, and never known anyone who has. Does it happen? Yes, but you just have to be safe. Don't walk around off campus at night alone or while drunk. Lock your bike up REAL GOOD, that was the one area we had a problem with this fall. We have our own police force and security guards, I feel like Duke's doing almost everything short of physically fencing off the campus, it really comes down to personal responsibility in most cases.
It probably recieved a low score because Durham has a horrible reputation, partially deserved, partially not.</p>
<p>I've never really worried about safety. East Campus is fairly safe, although some bicycles have been stolen. I've walked from Science Drive to West at night; it's well-lit, and it's not so bad. There's SafeRides that can shuttle you around at night if you want it, and there's also SafeWalks that you can call to get someone to walk somewhere with you at night. You have to swipe your DukeCard to get into any building, so it's not like a stranger can just wander in. There's also emergency phones all over campus on poles that you can use to call security/police. Safety in numbers- if you're with a group of friends, I don't think much will happen to you. </p>
<p>Central Campus is a bit rough, and there have been several robberies, but not as many undergrads live there. Compared to a school like Penn or Johns Hopkins, I think Duke is relatively safe.</p>
<p>What do girls in particular think?</p>
<p>Well, I'm a DJ at Duke's radio station, even though I'm not a student there, and I didn't take a show there at five AM, mainly because the station is very close to the road and I've been known to on occasion (all the time) succumb to paranoia. Downtown Durham is unsafe at night, but not if you just use common sense. Walking half drunk down Markham or Main Street alone = not smart. That's generally not smart ANYWHERE. Even in Chapel Hill: instead of gang members raping you, it'lll be drunk frat boys. On Duke's campus, as long as you are aware of yourself and your surroundings, you'll usually be fine. Just like anywhere, don't carry too much cash: 20$ of mugger money should do it unless you're going off campus where you can't use your DukeCard.</p>
<p>Just be smart. Durham isn't your "let the kids out for the afternoon" city, but I love it and wouldn't live anywhere else.</p>
<p>campus is safe</p>
<p>I'm a girl, and I can't imagine feeling more safe on a campus (knock on wood...I feel safe, but I'm also superstitious!) Safety was a MAJOR concern for me, due to a truly frightening experience that I had at a summer program at Brown. After that, it actually became one of my top concerns - and I still chose Duke. If you want an example of how safe I feel here - this may not have been the best idea, but I was going to work on a paper at a friend's apartment on Central (which involves taking the bus) at 1 in the morning on a Sunday night - without even thinking about it, I left my dorm with a laptop in my bag, walked alone across campus to the bus stop, stood there waiting for a bus for about 10 minutes, and it was only AFTER I got on the bus that I realized "Wow, that would probably be considered a pretty stupid idea." But I didn't even once feel unsafe. I actually walk around alone on East Campus late at night all the time, and it's crazy how safe I feel - the security guards constantly patrolling the area probably help, too. I can't say much for West since I don't live there so I'm not often there by myself TOO late at night, but I'd imagine it's somewhat similar. Then again, I've never, EVER wandered out into Durham late at night by myself, and I've only gone once or twice with a group - and when I did, I made sure to always have a couple of big guys present in it (being friends with football players helps). So, long story short, it's the same as what I believe everyone else will tell you - campus is extremely safe, Durham is not so much. The upside is, there's usually not much of a need to go out into Durham - the Duke campus has everything you need.</p>
<p>Durhole is not too safe at night-- don't walk around alone. During the day? I see no problem in walking around alone... none at all.
Duke however, is safe. I don't think some parts of campus are too well lit, but if you think it's a concern, get in contact with the administration and they'll put a lamppost there.</p>
<p>I've hung around Duke's campus since I was 8 (back then i was w/ my parents, but still)! The other night I actually walked from the front of Cameron Indoor to the third floor of the Bryan Center parking lot w/o worrying AT ALL. There's always somebody around from what I've noticed, and there isn't anybody just there for no reason either. Lots of campus police (esp. during popular sports seasons)! I think the reason for the low ranking could possibly be due to some of the neighborhoods right around the campus, but there's a big wooded area around the campus (it's a nice buffer). People unfamiliar with the campus get lost A LOT since it's not the easiest place in the world to navigate, so most people don't use it as a shortcut (which bothers me about some colleges). </p>
<p>Duke is Safe. They also offer a program that's like a late-night taxi service if you feel unsafe walking by yourself or something, but I've never really thought it was THAT necessary (besides to make people feel more safe... like they have the option).</p>