<p>
I wouldn’t say it’s any more unsafe than any other part of town, and it’s probably a good deal safer than most. Many students walk off campus to 9th street (a main drag right off East) or to Brightleaf Square, a shopping district a short walk from East. Northgate Mall is also quite close to East and is very nice. The NC School for Science & Math is right down the street from East campus, and I can assure you that parents have no qualms about sending their high school students there. Parents also have no qualms about sending their kids to Duke TIP, a summer program for gifted middle/high schoolers hosted on East campus.</p>
<p>It should be noted, however, that walking off campus at night by oneself can be ill-advised. People have gotten mugged around East, but inevitably it is someone wandering around a couple blocks from campus by himself/herself at 3 AM.</p>
<p>
Jeez. No barbed wire! There’s a very low stone wall, but it is more for decoration than a barrier; it’s quite easy to step or scramble over.</p>