<p>I was reading the Daily Trojan about the recent crimes perpetrated on or near the USC campus since September:<br>
Last Fall:<br>
Two sexual assaults in two days
USC grad student fatally stabbed in an early morning altercation in the North University Park area.
USC freshman shot in the leg outside of a nightclub north of campus. This Spring:
officer-involved shooting that barricaded areas around campus
A hit-and-run that killed a freshman and severely injured another.
A fraternity on The Row faces a sexual assault investigation </p>
<p>What is surprising is that even with these headline events, they reported that crime actually decreased this year from last year. </p>
<p>I have read crime reports for the USC on campus and it seems like security is in place. But since only Freshman are guaranteed housing, I am more concerned about area safety for the next three years. </p>
<p>I pulled up a few articles about muggings, etc. How safe are the areas OFF campus for the non-freshmen? Safety is definitely a major concern. </p>
<p>In today’s modern world campus crime is a problem across the country. SC is not immune. This topic has been addressed many times on this board. Last fall a female freshman was killed while walking back from the library at Auburn, AL. Auburn has one stoplight in the little town.
Cal/Berkley’s crime report for 2007 is available on the internet. These figures are copied straight from their report. Please note this is just crime reported ON CAMPUS, not near or close by the campus.</p>
<pre><code>CAL…
</code></pre>
<p>Forcible Rape 7
Robbery, may include weapon 27
Assault 185
Burglary 89
Larceny-theft 737
Motor Vehicle Theft 16
Arson 11</p>
<p>Actually, Cal is on an urban setting like USC. Cal’s not the safest place in the world. I lived in Berkeley for a little bit and with its level of poverty, it’s best to walk in groups around the city at night, but it’s definitely safe in the day.</p>
<p>Also, the feel of Cal and USC is different. However, they are right in citing the correlation between urban settings and crime.</p>
<p>I really don’t care to hear about other campus’ crime rate. </p>
<p>Is anyone here a sophomore, junior or senior at USC who lives off campus who can address the safety from nearby apartments to campus? </p>
<p>I’ve heard of muggings and people held up at knife-point, etc. But I would rather hear first hand from just students who live there now. Thanks.</p>
<p>I lived off campus my sophomore year. I felt pretty safe, but I was also smart. I didn’t walk back alone late at night, I didn’t flaunt anything expensive while I was walking, etc. I never saw anything particularly sketchy. Also, response time has improved greatly since the events earlier this year, so it is far easier to use them to get back and forth. </p>
<p>By the way, you can get housing from USC for 2 years. If you want to be on campus your sophomore year, it shouldn’t be that hard.</p>
<p>Living on the row is the most safe location because all of the sororities have security guards at night. It’s also a very active area with lots of people walking around at night. Outside of that, living north of campus is preferable to living west of campus.</p>
<p>My son is a junior, was in Tuscany on Figueroa across from campus his 2nd year and is just north of campus in Conquest housing apts. now. He hasn’t had any problems and comes and goes at all hours due to his film schedules which is sometimes runs into late nights. I do remind him to be aware of his surroundings, etc. at night. The school is great and I’m sending another there next fall, with yet another applying in the fall. The kids just need to be aware of their surroundings and be smart.</p>
<p>My son wanted on campus housing sophomore year but did not get it because of the lottery. He will be living off campus. My husband went to see the area. He said there were police patrolling the area and should be o.k. There is a campus cruiser with stops off campus to go back to the main campus. My son has a bike, as do many USC students. I think you have to look at the big picture of the great things offered at USC vs. your other choices to decide what is best for you.</p>
<p>My son is also on Figueroa in Figueroa Arms Apartments, actually in the so called “worst area” to be in - south of the campus. He has been there for 3 years. He is there because I bought him a coop condo so he wouldn’t be at the mercy of landlords. (some of them are a real crime due to the quality of some apts). These condo apts are gated with security and many USC students and graduates live there and the building, the oldest apt building in Los Angeles, was featured on an episode of “Cold Case”. The campus cruiser does not even go there. I love it there, I visit all the time and once spent a summer in the condo. I walk or ride a bike everywhere. The south area neighborhood is described is a working class minority area way worse “looking” than the north of USC area. There are homeless and a hooker sometimes at the bus stop across the street. I am from NYC and lived in very urban Brooklyn (Pratt) when I went to college and I have always just kept “aware” of my surroundings as I do in NYC and USC. This is not an area where you can wander alone drunk at night after a party. Other than that I feel fine there. When I am walking, the neighborhood people are friendly I think due to the oddness of seeing a suburban looking white lady in south central. For the most part, I stay on Figueroa.</p>
<p>You are not in Kansas and as long as you realize that, living in the area can be a wonderful experiance as depicted in this article from the Daily Trojan that I am sure my son and many other USC students identify with. </p>
<p>Another area to consider off campus is downtown LA. Head straight down Figueroa to Hope St. area. There are many beautiful new condos/rentals there now and it is a five minute communte by car. I have a family member living there now and there are many SC students in his building. It gets a bit pricey but some share with a roommate.</p>
<p>It is not a bad thing to get used to city living. Wherever your career may lead after college, it may be in a big city and it’s good to develop some street smarts There are many great places to live within a reasonable distance to the campus. If I thought about all the sensational crime that went on in NYC when I was living there right after graduation from USC, I would have run screaming. Unfortunately, bad things happen everywhere. Head up and eyes open wherever you are and you’ll be fine.</p>