<p>cjm: I know last year when I visited the school, there was an article in the school newspaper about how a student was held at gun point outside of Eastman. I don't recall all of the specifics, but the student wasn't injured.</p>
<p>I believe all schools are required to make security information publicly available. Here's Eastmans/Rochester's report from their website:</p>
<p>University</a> of Rochester Security Services</p>
<p>I've found similar reports on other schools/conservatory websites. </p>
<p>There are probably many others out there who know more about security reporting than I do, please chime in! I believe that crimes not technically on campus, but adjacent to campus or in areas frequented by students aren't required to be reported even if campus security is made aware of the incident. So, I suspect that these school self-reports would need to be supplemented by police reports from the community to get a true picture.</p>
<p>Thanks! Doesn't look too bad. I am sure U of Miami stats are higher as well as USC. Will look those up as well. No matter where you are, you just have to be aware of surroundings. Husband just thought the questions were excessive.</p>
<p>To provide some insights into Eastman security and responses: I am the mother of the Eastman student who was held up at gunpoint last year. My son was held up in the middle of the day by 4 teenagers; he was just down the block from the main entrance to the school at the time. He was fortunate in that he was not hurt -- he gave them his wallet and sprinted for the main entrance where security called the police. The response of University security and the Rochester police was immediate. The teenagers were caught within less than one hour, although DS's wallet was not recovered. The caring of the entire Eastman community was very evident. We were very lucky. Since the incident, multiple closed circuit cameras have been installed throughout the area and both the Eastman security presence and that of the Rochester police have increased significantly.</p>
<p>DS is currently a senior voice major (German minor) and has only wonderful things to say about his experience at Eastman. He loves his voice teacher and feels that he has received an outstanding education.</p>
<p>My son graduated from Eastman in 2006. </p>
<p>ptmom - Sorry to hear about your son's experience and glad to know that things turned out ok. My son did not run into any problems while he was there. He lived in the dorm for 3 years and in an apartment a couple blocks from the dorm during his senior year. The dorm is security locked and as long as the students follow the rules, there will not be problems there. The dorm is right across the street from the classroom building which also has security.</p>
<p>Downtown Rochester is not the safest place in the world. Students are instructed to never walk around alone after dark, to stick together, to always make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be back, etc. My son says the students do a good job of looking after each other. Also, campus security is very responsive even to the students who live off campus. During sophmore year son was at an off campus party where there was an incident. They called security who responded right away. </p>
<p>When I was in college back in the dark ages we used to privately make fun of the security guards who were often full of themselves and not too bright. My son said that this was not his experience at Eastman. The guards were friendly to the students and helpful when needed. There seemed to be good relations between the two groups.</p>
<p>Okay, now I am worried again. I know you said the security was good and they have installed cameras etc., but what about Eastman students going back and forth to River Campus for classes? S wants to do Dual Degree so hopefully won't have night classes. But ptmom's son's incident happened in broad daylight. Guess I am not too thrilled about an urban school.</p>
<p>My S relaxes by taking long walks, often at night. This sounds like a very bad idea at Eastman! We'll have to think about it if he is accepted....</p>
<p>Stringfollies--where else did S apply? Violin, right?</p>
<p>My son has lived off campus for several years and continues to walks back and forth without problems. He is aware of his surroundings, as you need to be in any city. He has also taken many classes on the River campus, initially riding the bus, and more recently driving and parking without any concerns. Even the most remote campuses can have security concerns; a significant part of the new student orientation at each of the city schools including Eastman includes how to be smart about your safety. Many of the best schools, including Eastman, are located in cities; don't let this dissuade your child from attending if he/she gets in and finds the right teacher.</p>
<p>cjm -</p>
<p>yes, violin. he applied to oberlin, rice, u. wis, u. mich, iu and eastman. he also auditioned by recording at cim (too many places to travel to!).</p>
<p>Thanks ptmom. My husband did say a car would be helpful in rochester since the buses to not seem to run on a strict schedule that would ensure getting to class on time. I know urban schools come with inherent crime. We just didn't realize Eastman wasn't a "campus". That is why S chose not to apply to NYU because he wanted a college campus atmosphere. Oh well, we'll see.<br>
Stingfollies, I hear you about travelling to all the schools. S's IB teachers joke with him they are sorry that high school is getting in the way of his career since he never seems to be at school. He has missed for All State & all county jazz, UMiami visit & Eastman. He was accepted to USC and asked to interview for trustee scholarship. The 2 dates were the same as his Eastman audition or the 2 days following. He ended up with fever and exhaustion, etc at Eastman so was very glad he decided beforehand he didn't want to spend the next 4 yrs in LA with or without scholarship. Tough choices to make. I think we are done with visits now, just waiting now.</p>
<p>Wow! What an honor though. I hope he has success with the others. </p>
<p>My S is doing the IB Diploma (6 IB classes + TOK and extended essay). Luckily, he had a good first quarter and goes to a small international school where they all know him and support his violin habit. The teachers, usually extremely rigorous and unforgiving, have been remarkably supportive of his audition absences (he has been out more than in school the last few weeks). This could have been a nightmare otherwise. I don't know how he'll do on his IB exams though after missing so much school. He has mock IB's next week between IU and Oberlin - these determine his final term grades. Hopefully he'll get into music school so those grades won't matter!</p>
<p>RE: Travel back and forth between Eastman and Rochester. </p>
<p>First, the River Campus is in a safer part of town than Eastman. It is probably as safe as most urban campuses. River Campus is a contained campus bordered by a river, a cemetary and the medical school complex. There is a bus that runs between RC and Eastman. My son took classes at RC almost every semester and was almost always able to get to his classes on time although sometimes is was a bit close. He did not have a car. He played intramurals freshman and sophmore years and would bum rides out to RC for those events. Rochester also has a very active club scene and he would frequent clubs on weekends with no problems. Again, common sense is the rule.</p>
<p>S didn't get to take a tour while auditioning at Eastman so didn't get to see the dorms. Has anyone seen them? Are they suite-style? Co-ed by floor? Etc. Etc. Any info would be appreciated. (I can't find any info on the Rochester or Eastman site re: Eastman dorms.)</p>
<p>The dorms are not suite style. For freshman, 2 students share a small room. There are mens and womens bathrooms on each floor. After freshman year, everyone gets singles. The dorm is 14 stories tall. Certain floors are dedicated to certain things. There is a quite section, a drug and alcohol free section, I think, and a couple of others as well. Each floor has a lounge with a TV. </p>
<p>The main floor is essentially the student union for Eastman students. There is a dining room and a snack bar as well as some common areas. There is a very nice lounge that is often used for recitals. Game room, TV lounge, kitchen and laundry in the basement. The YMCA is right next door and students can purchase monthy memberships if they want at a discount. </p>
<p>And practicing is STRICTLY forbidden in the dorms.</p>
<p>Are the dorms strictly undergrad? Grad students have it pretty tough--they don't usually have housing provided, and it's really hard to find affordable decent housing on a grad student's budget plus then you need transportation. But such is life.</p>
<p>Is today the last day for Eastman auditions?? So the powers that be will be making their decisions?</p>
<p>cjm I hope so!!! D and I were just talking about that today!!</p>