I just got back from the University Scholars weekend, and I thought it was a super cool program. The one concern I have is how safe the campus is. Do you guys have issues with muggings/robberies/assault, or is campus secure? I’m not from a huge city, so I couldn’t really tell.
I had the same worry when it came time to send my 17 year old son off to the big city. We are from a very small town in Maine. There are occasional reports of incidents but my son tells me he has never felt unsafe. He explores all over the city all the time, too! The NU police have a great presence and a number of programs like late night escorts etc. my son has never felt the need to use them but they’re there. I tell him “nothing good ever happens after midnight anywhere” so he shouldn’t be out and about at 2AM anyway when all the trouble seems to go down in any city.
The campus is incredibly secure IMO - I personally am out and about a decent amount in the 12PM - 1AM range and I see more NEU PD on campus than people - off-campus I see plenty of people usually as well. For reference, I am a guy though. I’m usually with a friend or two, but I have had absolutely no issues - Boston, while not perfect, is a pretty young city with lots of college students - if one college student is out late in an area, the chances are there are others, probably for the same event.
Generally big city safety rules apply; don’t walk around Roxbury/Mission Hill/the fens alone late at night. But I never felt unsafe on campus or walking to/from my apartment a mile away. If you don’t want to walk back late, Northeastern also has a free shuttle service at nights for off-campus students. You can also call NUPD and ask for an officer to escort you if you feel unsafe.
In five years, I never felt unsafe on campus, and I’m a woman and started when I was 17, coming from a small town in the midwest. If you want more information, I’d check out the Huntington News (student paper) crime log for details about all the reported crimes and incidents on campus. Northeastern is very proud of being an open urban campus, but also cognizant of the fact that a big city has its potential dangers. They are very aware of and connected with the neighborhood. Between NUPD, Boston PD (whose headquarters border campus), and the transit police (who have a presence in Ruggles station), they do a good job of making sure things stay safe.
I echo what others have said - it is a safe campus. However, you need to be smart - any unattended valuable item will not be there when you get back. The most common crimes on campus are phones, backpacks, computers, etc. being taken when left somewhere and lots of bike thefts.
Here is my experience (I am female, by the way):
- I do not feel unsafe walking from the library back to my dorm alone late at night, as the NUPD is so close at hand.
- I don’t leave my belongings unattended in any of the buildings unless I am with a friend, or in Snell Library (as you need an NU I.D. to get in)
- I would recommend getting your laptop (and bike, if you have one) registered with the campus police; it takes probably 15 minutes at most
Overall it is a surprisingly safe campus for, you know, the middle of Boston.
Students at urban universities develop street smarts very quickly regardless of where they are from. I have read of many incidents at college town campuses like UVa and Indiana University. Perhaps students in college towns let their guard down.