<p>Pretty sad when you cant walk home from your campus gym because you might get held up at gunpoint… That is not normal on most campuses… Usc should be putting money to keep students safe… Thats rediculous</p>
<p>Yes, they do offer a shuttle service to football and baseball games. Students are picked up from the Russell House Student Union or the Coliseum on Assembly Street. Shuttles pick up 3 hours before the games and run until 1.5 hours after the games end.</p>
<p>The Carolina Shuttle operates Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Evening Shuttle operates from 6pm to 12:30 a.m. Any students with late classes or who are leaving the library late can take the shuttle back to their residence halls.</p>
<p>@astoria22.</p>
<p>You can walk home alone if you want to and make it back fine, safe and sound. That is what happens 99% of the time. That does not mean it’s the smart thing to do. This could have happened anywhere, not just USC or in Columbia. USC is a pretty safe campus and there are definitely services available to students so they can get around campus at night without having to be by themselves in a safe manner.</p>
<p>There are options available 24/7 for students.
[Division</a> of Law Enforcement and Safety - Campus Safety](<a href=“Law Enforcement and Safety - Law Enforcement and Safety | University of South Carolina”>Law Enforcement and Safety - Law Enforcement and Safety | University of South Carolina)
[Evening</a> Shuttle](<a href=“Parking and Transportation Services - Parking and Transportation Services | University of South Carolina”>Parking and Transportation Services - Parking and Transportation Services | University of South Carolina)</p>
<p>If you can’t take the evening shuttle or the APO, then you can get the police to escort you.</p>
<p>This is just a unfortunate incident that really is a rarity and I’d say USC is a pretty safe campus, but because it is in a city, you do have to keep some common sense.</p>
<p>Astoria 22,</p>
<p>Where the state of South Carolina ranks in terms of crime is irrelevant to how safe it is on and around the USC campus. New Hampshire has the lowest crime rate of any state in the U.S. By your line of reasoning, this would mean that every neighborhood in New Hampshire is perfectly safe. AUGirl was correct when she said that USC is “basically a small city in itself, so things like this are going to happen, but they’re pretty rare.” Here’s another way to look at things:</p>
<p>At UNC-Chapel Hill, Eve Carson – the student body president – was dragged out of her near-campus home at gunpoint several years ago and murdered. Likewise, we all know what Virginia Tech has been through. Does that make UNC-Chapel Hill and Virginia Tech dangerous places? I have been to both, and I have walked around them at night. Dangerous certainly is not an adjective that springs to mind! The same is true of USC.</p>
<p>Good points - since you have been to UNC how would you compare USC VS UNC. I know UNC has higher rankings but how about the campuses? thanks again</p>
<p>There is also a fairly well developed “crime alert” (or whatever they call it) system where emails and text messages are sent out if their have been any violent crimes in the area. My son has only gotten a few of these, one was earlier this week and it gave the location of a robbery (off campus a few blocks from his dorm).</p>
<p>My son has a car on campus, but the only time he uses it is on weekends. It’s just more convinient for him to walk or take shuttles. He walks to the Strom several days a week.</p>
<p>Hi Astoria 22,</p>
<p>First of all, it occurred to me when I woke up this morning that I might have been a bit harsh yesterday in my response to your post. It was at the end of a long, stressful day at work. I am happy to see that you seem to have not been offended. As for a comparison of the UNC and USC campuses, I will start with attractiveness and then move onto safety:</p>
<p>In terms of attractiveness, they are both impressive for large public universities, although very different. Chapel Hill is within the Northern Forest, so the entire look and feel of the central campus around the Quad reminds me of the liberal arts colleges in New England…lots of classic old brick buildings surrounded by stately oaks, etc. </p>
<p>Columbia, on the other hand, is within the Southern Forest, so the look and feel of the central campus around the Horseshoe is classic “old south.” I find USC’s central campus to be breathtakingly beautiful…just about the most striking university setting I have ever seen. To be fair to UNC, I grew up in the northeast, and have never lived in the “old south.” Therefore, the Horseshoe has an exotic, unfamiliar look – and, therefore, is much more striking to me. However, in terms of beauty, you’re not going to go wrong with the central campus of either UNC or USC. Now, as for safety…</p>
<p>I have not reviewed the crime statistics on either, but my sense is that UNC and USC are equivalent in terms of safety. The unfortunate fact is that, when you concentrate tens of thousands of students in a small area – with all of the bars, nightclubs, etc. that cater to that demographic – it’s going to be a magnet for some number of punks and thugs. </p>
<p>There are some areas just off the USC campus that I would not feel comfortable walking around by myself late at night, because I find them too dark and isolated. You’re just asking for trouble. The same is true of UNC. One example is portions of Rosemary Street, even though it is the next street off the Franklin Street “main drag.” In fact, there are even sections of Franklin Street that I would be careful about late at night. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that I would not hesitate to allow one of my kids to attend either UNC or USC because of safety concerns. In fact, at the end of the entire college application process last year, those two schools were our son’s top choices… the Honors College and a McNair Scholarship at USC, or the Honors Program and an annual merit scholarship at UNC. He chose USC, but I would have been equally thrilled is he had selected UNC. In fact, it would be much more entertaining for me during basketball season because I am a college hoops aficionado :-)</p>
<p>Yeah I would like to point out that the girl was walking off-campus at the time of the robbery. There are many safer options that she could have chosen including calling the night shuttle that USC operates for situations like this. Columbia isn’t a dangerous city, but not being careful is just asking for trouble.</p>
<p>I wasnt offended at all. I am also from the Northeast maybe that is why I felt comfortable with your response… I am in the midst of the same situation you were in… My daughter loved USC, in fact I could not believe how nice the campus and the amenities are… I am on this site for honesty… and therefore I appreciated your comments… Being from the Northeast (Long Island) I cant get to all the areas often enough to make a well informed decision so your experiences help… It certainly wont stop me and my daughter from making the right choice for her. UNC vs USC. Most people tell me UNC hands down is a better school but my feeling is both schools are good and its up to the student to excel…she will get a job from either institution…So thanks for taking the time to answer… I benefit from your experience and I appreciate you sharing it…I liked Columbia, it had a small town feel which is fine for me growing up in Queens and NYC…If it were my choice and I were attending it would be USC… I love football and Spurrier was always my guy so thanks…</p>
<p>Hi Astoria22, </p>
<p>As I always say to people when they ask if I’m offended, “I grew up in the NY Metro area. As long as you don’t insult my mother, I’m probably going to be OK with what you have to say.” 
It can be a bit entertaining around our house sometimes because I married a Southern woman, and she grew up in a different environment. In fact, once in awhile I find out after the fact that we’ve had an argument I didn’t even know about Seriously
</p>
<p>I did extensive research on both UNC and USC last year, and will be happy to share it with you this weekend. The more I know about your daughter’s circumstances, the better I can tailor what I say - whether she has been offered the Honors College or Capstone…that sort of thing.</p>
<p>Astoria…we are also from NY/LI. My son was accepted to SC with the Mckissick scholarship. No word yet on Capstone, I think they will be notified next week?</p>
<p>We visited SC, Clemson, and UMD last week Loved them all. </p>
<p>Still need to visit SUNY-BING.</p>
<p>Trying to get him to make a decision soon.</p>
<p>Don’t know how it will turn out?</p>
<p>I would love to have a decision, and make a deposit soon. Maybe the Capstone Invite would do it?</p>
<p>He will be a Biochem major. Right now he had applied to Biomedical Engineering, but has since changed his major interest.
Hope it will not be a problem to change it before he accepts his admission.</p>
<p>My daughter would be coming in as a transfer from Loyola in Maryland so no scholarships apply… She has a 3.7 and is considering USC and UNC. She is over the "dont go to a southern school if you are from the north garbage and now it is just up to what feels better. Most likely if USC it will be accounting and Economics double major. UNC does not offer accounting, so it would be Business there. I dont like that since it is not specific enough. Anyway we will check out both schools soon and make a decision. USC is building a new Moore School of Business which open in 2013. Im not sold on USC claiming they are #1 in the country for Intl Business. To me that is meaningless. Anyway we will see.</p>
<p>USC student robbed at gunpoint
By R. DARREN PRICE - <a href="mailto:dprice@thestate.com">dprice@thestate.com</a>
By R. DARREN PRICE The State E-Mail
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A University of South Carolina student was robbed at gunpoint near campus Thursday night.
The robbery is the second such incident in the area this last few weeks.
The student was walking in the 1900 block of Pendleton Street about 10:30 p.m. when a gray four-door SUV pulled up next do him and a male passenger asked him for change for a $10 bill, Columbia Police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said. When the student said no, the passenger pulled out a handgun and demanded money.
Today’s news video
The student told the passenger that he didnt have any money, but he could give him an iPod, which he took. The vehicle sped away, Timmons said, but not before the student was able to get the cars tag numbers. Police are working to identify the vehicles driver and passenger.
A female student was also robbed at Wheat and Pickens streets about 10:30 p.m. Feb. 29. The student was also walking in the area carrying an iPad when a man approached her on foot and told her he had a weapon. The man then took the iPad and ran toward Blossom Street.
USC police issued text alerts on the universitys Carolina Alert system following both robberies. The university also sent an email to faculty, staff and students referencing multiple armed robberies…near campus, and listing safety tips. The email says to travel on well-lit and -walked routes, have a plan before leaving, walking in groups and to be aware of surroundings. The email tells people call 911 immediately if they feel unsafe. </p>
<p>Read more here: [USC</a> student robbed at gunpoint - Crime & Courts - TheState.com](<a href=“http://www.thestate.com/2012/03/16/2194835/usc-student-robbed-at-gunpoint.html#storylink=cpy]USC”>http://www.thestate.com/2012/03/16/2194835/usc-student-robbed-at-gunpoint.html#storylink=cpy)</p>
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<p>It’s not actually USC making that claim, USC only repeats that US News and World Report and other college rating organizations rank USC as #1 in Intl Biz. </p>
<p>Nothing wrong with telling people that “experts” think you are #1.</p>
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Are there lots nearby? Or can you park at business lots that are closed without any problem?</p>
<p>Google satellite photos show plenty of lots around, but it doesn’t mark if they are public or not.</p>
<p>I’ll be visiting there this weekend with DD and DW. What are some good restaurants in Five Points?</p>
<p>My two favorite Five Points restaurants are Yesterday’s (laid-back, great food and atmosphere) and Garibaldi’s (pricier, but so delicious.) There are a ton of restaurants literally within 2 blocks, so you’re bound to find something.</p>
<p>The Gourmet Shop is great for lunch!</p>
<p>A few of the dorms have more parking area than they need, and thats where my son parks his car. It’s several blocks from his dorm, but during the week he actually doesn’t need his car. During the weekend he is allowed to use the reserved parking spaces in front of his dorm (they are only reserved during normal business hours on weekdays).</p>
<p>There are also several parking garages that you can pay extra to use, and most all the dorms have a garage fairly nearby. </p>
<p>Most of the time you really don’t even need a car.</p>
<p>I was happy to read that last sentence as our DD will not be taking her car to USC.</p>
<p>Anybody else going to Scholar’s Day on Saturday? We are looking forward to making the trip down from Ohio.</p>