Chicago Violence

<p>I keep hearing a lot about the increasing gang violence in Chicago, and that it is spilling into Lincoln Park. I have to say, I'm concerned about allowing my daughter to attend DePaul, even though it's very close to the top of her list. Her major would require her to travel back and forth between campuses a lot, and the public transportation system must surely be vulnerable to violence. Daughter also likes the public service aspects of DePaul, but I fear those might put her in very bad areas.</p>

<p>To current students (or native Chicagoans) - do you feel unsafe, or that you are limited to the area around campus? Do you feel that citywide safety is becoming more of a problem?</p>

<p>That’s definitely overblown. Gang violence in Lincoln park? Haha. That’s just typical media trying to make us fear our own shadow. After my first year at depaul I can honestly say I’ve never felt in danger or saw anybody that didn’t belong on a college campus. I had over half of my classes in the loop but lived in Lincoln park so I rode the transportation MANY times a week and it’s fine usually you’ll be on the train with other students. Hope this helps. Lincoln park is probably the safest neighborhood in Chicago.</p>

<p>Thanks goblue, that does help. We visited last winter and it did indeed feel safe, but we didn’t roam far from campus (both Lincoln Park and Loop) and the mag mile. </p>

<p>What area of Chicago would you never go to? I gather it’s mostly South - is there a boundary road that you just don’t cross?</p>

<p>My s will be attending DePaul this year (we used to live in Chicago when he was young). This is what we have told him (and what you hear everywhere): Don’t travel alone at night; use your smarts–be aware especially in crowds where pickpockets thrive; memorize the CTA system–ask fellow students and your Discover Chicago mentors what neighborhoods are more dangerous (over time this changes); never leave your drink without supervision from a friend (even if its a coke), keep your dorm room locked when you are not there, If you find that you have to go someplace at night by yourself (even if its the library across campus), call someone and talk to them as you walk–tell them where you are–if something happens, they can call the campus police. If you are doing something different from your regular routine, tell someone where you will be (text a friend or parent)</p>

<p>My sense is that all the service opportunities are done as a small or large group–no one is asked to go into a bad neighborhood by themselves to do this–what a liability that would be for the school! when you go to orientation, you will feed a lot better.</p>

<p>These are suggestions that all students should follow–regardless of where they go to school. My D goes to college in a small town and this is what she follows–I often get a call from her to talk when she finds its dark and she needs to walk across campus from the gym or library. The girls travel in packs and no one leaves a party by themselves, etc.</p>

<p>Mamaduck - I actually dog sat for a while during the year so I was constantly walking around by myself with a dog exploring new places all around campus and the safness of lincoln park extends quite a ways north and south of fullerton. Basically there are no unsafe places that you can walk to, I wouldn’t cross the bridge on Fullerton heading east but there’s really no reason you would go that way. In all honesty the south side is the only place in Chicago I would not go.</p>

<p>And you should also not feel unsafe walking alone on campus at night. I did it routinely and never felt in danger or even saw someone who didn’t belong.</p>

<p>Thank you all - you have comforted me. Now we just have to get accepted and get a good financial package!!</p>

<p>In the weeks before D started school, I started worrying a lot about violence. I bought pepper spray and a loud alarm for her key chain, really just for my peace of mind.</p>

<p>I have lived in the Lincoln Park neighborhood my entire life and honestly I can say that its pretty safe. During that daytime crime isn’t even an issue (although there is always some risk). At nighttime (just as in almost every other place) you should be aware of your surroundings and walk on main streets (if you’re alone) but it is probably better to travel with a group of people. I travel alone when it’s night sometimes and when I do I just make sure to walk on well-lit streets that stay busy all the time. As for traveling between the campus in Lincoln Park and the Loop, it isn’t super dangerous especially during the day. Most of the crime committed on CTA trains usually doesn’t occur on the stops from the loop to Lincoln Park. Both areas that the campus is located in are relatively safe.</p>

<p>current depaul student here. ive been to both campuses. lincoln park and loop.</p>

<p>lincoln park = mostly occupied by rich yuppies and professionals… and people who can afford insane rent. it is bordered by wrigleyville and boystown (known for its gay friendly atmosphere) these arent exactly what id call mean streets.</p>

<p>loop= about a block away from michigan ave, and in the business district. surrounded by business people, tourists and professionals. again, not exactly a rough neighborhood. </p>

<p>while these neighborhoods arent dangerous by any means one might have to use common sense when traveling alone or at night. also there are university police. </p>

<p>good luck</p>

Just stay away from Englewood and N. Lawndale, LP is super yuppie and pretentious which equals less crime.