<p>Now, I've never been to LA or set foot on USC's campus, I live in Ohio(and I'm a Notre Dame fan, lol, shhhhh... but if I don't get into ND, would mind going to SC). Everyone says the surrounding area is sketchy and students don't really feel safe walking around past dark.</p>
<p>Now, the schools endowment is like 3.7 billion, right? Could they spend some money, maybe in phases, buying out property, get rid of some of the gangs, buy some of the coke dealers houses, whatever. But, like I said, I've never been to USC, so I really don't how bad or how hard it would be to really change anything. </p>
<p>But it would be nice to have something like what I've heard UCLA has, with shops and restaurants outside of campus, nice neighborhood. Now I know USC is actually in the city and not the 'burbs, but you get the picture. </p>
<p>well I'm from Southern Cali and yes USC is a school I would not go to even if i had a full ride...the minute you step off campus is a difference like day and night... it's in downtown LA so yeah</p>
<p>There's a rather large problem with that idea. Real people live in the neighborhood around USC. Yes, a few are in gangs or do drugs, but the vast majority are hard working people who can barely afford the places they are currently living. USC would turn these people on the street by doing as you suggest. Instead, they work to improve the neighborhood through far more friendly aspects. USC students tutor neighborhood students through JEP, raise money for the community, and provide many of the jobs for the community. There is no quick fix in this sort of situation.</p>
<p>Also, the community isn't really that bad- it's just a typical city. If you are smart, you'll be fine.</p>
<p>Westwood is nicer, but I don't know that it would be the model of what USC would like. Yes, there's shops and restaurants and such...but there's still homeless people hitting you up for money.</p>
<p>And, or one thing, USC's neighborhood is not in the "ghetto". It's predominantly low-income & racially mixed, & there is some crime, but if you know LA, it is miles ahead a lot better than many other neighborhoods I could name.</p>
<p>USC has those little car things that can drive you around so its not even unsafe.
they're not dangerous people they're just poor
theres a difference</p>
<p>It would be really nice if some wealthy alum/real estate developer would turn the University Village shopping center into a "destination" shopping experience that resembles a college town. That would give SC students some places to hang out and spend their money, but I doubt it will happen because of the surrounding demographics.</p>
<p>USC does have financial incentives for employees who invest in the neighborhood by buying homes there, which seems like a great idea. I don't know if it's making a significant difference, however. </p>
<p>I also read in a parents' newsletter that the university discourages families from buying real estate in the area in order to house the family's own student and other renters. I thought this policy was a bit surprising, but I guess the idea is to avoid pushing out the local folks and turning the area into a student ghetto.</p>
<p>
[quote]
It would be really nice if some wealthy alum/real estate developer would turn the University Village shopping center into a "destination" shopping experience that resembles a college town. That would give SC students some places to hang out and spend their money, but I doubt it will happen because of the surrounding demographics.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think USC was giving the "go ahead" from the surrounding community to build a college town that could guarantee housing for 4 years.</p>
<p>
[quote]
USC would turn these people on the street by doing as you suggest.
[/quote]
It was suggested to President Sample to move to a better location in the 90s, like Pepperdine area but he did not want to and he received the Humanitarian Award for sticking with this area.</p>
<p>It was not the cost that deterred the decision. I believe USC alumni wanted to foot the cost. I happen to agree with his decision because it would hurt the area that needs help the most. USC employs a lot of people. During the riots that broke out in the 90s, USC was left alone.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Professor Callaghan said: "American universities like USC are big, on-going, dynamic institutions. They are always innovatively thrusting ahead. I think that universities this side of the Atlantic are, like Americans themselves, never frightened of making mistakes. I think too that there is tremendous academic freedom here and great sense of camaraderie." </p>
<p>Professor Callaghan is very proud of the university's place in the local - mostly ghetto - communities. </p>
<p>"We do a lot for the local under-privileged communities and run camps for the neighbourhood youngsters every summer on the campus and our students do a lot of voluntary work in the ghettoes. </p>
<p>"I think because of this the local community has a lot of respect for the campus, despite it looking like an oasis of green opulence against poor surrounding districts." </p>
<p>Professor Callaghan said the respect was never more evident than during the Rodney King riots when businesses around the campus were burnt down but, despite being at the mercy of the rioters, the USC campus was left alone. </p>
<p>"We are an integral part of the community and even the rioters appreciated that," he said.
<p>Steve Sample lives in San Marino, a very, very nice community. I've been to his house for their holiday party. It is the house of the university president. </p>
<p>There is quite a bit of controversy at the moment about the thirty year master plan that USC just proposed. I'm really not sure where I stand yet, because it is all very complicated, and definitely not black and white. Some people really don't want the UV upgraded, because then the neighborhood people would have no where that they could afford to shop.</p>
<p>I agree that it's a difficult issue, but I really don't understand why people call it a "ghetto" without even visiting. If you have at least some common sense when you're off campus, it's fine. It's not necessarily a good area, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be.</p>
<p>When SC was founded the acres around the few original buildings was an exclusive residential area. Many beautiful mansions were nearby, some on 28th Street.</p>
<p>It's true that the surrounding area leaves a lot to be desired, especially compared to Malibu and Westwood, but it really isn't as horrible as everyone makes it out to be. I've heard the area used to be a really wealthy area when SC started out, and it actually had the opportunity to move to the area that is now Pepperdine, but it turned that offer down to stay in downtown. Some would say that was a really bad idea, but you could also say that it gives the school a certain gritty character that would be hard to find in a typical beautiful suburban campus.</p>
<p>Hey Hawaiiboy, I`m also from Ohio (there's not many Ohioans out here at USC). And although the surrounding area is bad, as another poster said-- we do have Campus Cruiser to drive you to and from places late at night when you don't want to walk, and also- yes not having a "college town" is sometimes bad, however LA is your playground and many people go into Hollywood on the weekends, especially if you are involved in Greek Life because most of the off-campus events are held in LA Clubs or Bars (something you definately won't get at ND)</p>
<p>USC campus is very nice and the school offers small classes, plus some great programs unique to its university. I have not heard of "crack houses" near USC. Main thing is not to be walking off campus at night. There is a campus cruiser to drive you if you live off campus.</p>
<p>The sizes of GE classes in USC are ridiculous. And many lower division classes are quite large. I find that many professors I have encountered genuinely don't care about teaching, since USC is a research school. Moreover, although campus cruiser is nice, there are just simply not enough of them. It is not uncommon for students to wait 40 to 45 mins just for a ride while you can just walk to whatever desitnation in 10 min. As a result, many students would opt walking back to their apt even at late nite. </p>
<p>I mean, why can't USC just buy a few more cars and hire more ppl. I feel that USC is doing what is minimum that they can get by.</p>
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[quote]
USC will add five new cars and 34 new student drivers to its Campus Cruiser service in an effort to keep wait times under 15 minutes at all times.</p>
<p>Starting Wednesday, TrojanTransportation will also launch a new tram route, D. It will be a 15-minute loop around campus with stops at popular destinations such as the 29th Street Cafe, the Row and the 901 Bar & Grill.</p>
<p>It is an important investment in order to provide a safe ride home. By pushing people toward the tram it helps lower wait times for Campus Cruiser, Director of Transportation Anthony Mazza said. </p>
<p>The route will service residential areas such as Cardinal Gardens and Ellendale Place, and will also stop a Leavey Library. </p>
<p>Enhancements to the program were made to ensure students a level of security both on and off campus, Mazza said. </p>
<p>TrojanTransportation will also modify the A and B tram routes to run for 24 hours, he said.