<p>Here’s an article from today’s Minneapolis paper:</p>
<p>[6</a> months in, and only 6 homicides in Minneapolis](<a href=“http://www.startribune.com/local/49895387.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ]6”>http://www.startribune.com/local/49895387.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ)</p>
<p>you’ll be fine on campus and even around a bit. if you choose to take mass transit, try to avoid being out in the phillips neighborhood at night. (my sister and i missed a bus out there once.) but besides that, it really is safe!</p>
<p>wow, I actually like University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and thought the city was safe. I guess there is a lot of things to the city I don’t know about.</p>
<p>Minneapolis is pretty safe as long as you are careful. There are certain areas that you have to be careful in, especially at night, but that’s mostly north minneapolis and parts of south mpls (but more east). The area around the U is generally safe, but I know there were a few rapes on the campus a year or two ago. However, I would consider saftey reason to stay away from the U of M at all.</p>
<p>Okay. As a girl who’s grown up in a not-so-safe neighborhood in Minneapolis…I can tell you that it’s pretty much what you’d expect. There are parts of the city that are basically like suburbs, and other parts where you probably shouldn’t go out alone in at night. I feel perfectly safe in my city and love it, but I would never go walking alone in my neighborhood after dark. I mean, my brother has been robbed twice, and during those times was pistol-whipped, knocked unconscious, given a concussion, hung upsidedown by his ankles, etc. My boyfriend, who also lives in the neighborhood, has had two shootings on his block since moving to his apartment six months ago.</p>
<p>So that being said, I really don’t think Minneapolis is much different than other cities the same size. Of course there’s violence, but the important thing is to be smart and take care of yourself. Walk with friends instead of alone, try not to wander around too late after dark (especially if you get a bad vibe from where you are), and bike around instead of walking if you can. If you can’t, walk with self-confidence and make sure to be aware of your surroundings. Yep, that means don’t listen to your iPod.</p>
<p>But yeah, these things really only apply if you’re wandering around off-campus or in dinkytown really late at night. Walking around campus during the day is perfectly safe, of course. Minneapolis in general is a really nice city, and violent crime is not on the rise at all right now. But just try to err on the side of caution, because it seems to have worked for me-- I’m 19 and the worst trouble I’ve had is obnoxious guys yelling obscenities from pick-up trucks. And of course I’ve had people try to sell me drugs before, but all you have to do is say ‘no thanks’ and keep walking. =)</p>
<p>^
I know, I just never thought Minneapolis was like a typical large city. I actually thought it had low crime for it’s size, and almost as safe as New York City… I thought the crime of the city was like 70% lower than average.</p>
<p>I work and spend 100% of my time in the “bad” areas of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs. I grew up in the Minneapolis area. </p>
<p>The U of M campus is NOT GHETTO. “Dinkytown” literally is like 99% college students, professors, former students, and campus visitors year round. Trust me, you’re not in danger walking around on campus. At night, ANYWHERE in Minneapolis/STP (even on Grand Ave.- one of the nicest areas in the city), you need to be aware. Every city has their scum, and they wander randomly throughout the cities. </p>
<p>“Uptown” is the area near Franklin, Hennepin, Lyndale, near Lake Calhoun, and is mainly your hipster, college, hippie crowd. Cool area, lots of unique coffee shops and stores, and some historic buildings. Uptown does border Lake St and does dip into some less attractive areas, but again, I wouldn’t be too worried- there are a lot of people around that will help you if you need it. </p>
<p>Downtown is the highrise area, obviously, and is pretty safe. Cops everywhere all the time. There ARE weirdos out, especially at night, but generally, you’re pretty safe just because there are so many people out and about that no one will try anything sketchy. The bars and clubs DT are so much fun- GREAT nightlife! I’d be more worried about some drunk guy trying to fight you for looking at his girl wrong…lol.</p>
<p>Areas/Streets to avoid: Broadway Ave NE, Lowry Ave NE, Chicago Ave., Rice Street, and most areas of Minneapolis that are NORTH of I-94 where it cuts through MPLS. You might hear that Lake Street is the “worst”, but I can assure you from years of being in the ghettos everyday, Lake Street is not bad anymore. There are some weirdos, yes, but I would rather spend a week, day and night on Lake Street than 2 hours alone on Broadway. If you choose to go to St. Paul, there aren’t as many “bad areas”. The only ones I’d be wary of are University Ave W, west of Lexington…aka Frogtown, and Rice Street. St. Paul is older and the crime isn’t nearly as bad as in Minneapolis, but yes…there is still going to be some crime. The campus there is awesome, has a ton of historic buildings in and around it, great landscaping, and is just generally a place you definitely want to visit. </p>
<p>As for drug problems here- pot is easy to come by anywhere in MPLS/STP and the surrounding suburbs- but don’t let that get to you, everyone who’s stoned is happy as a clam and definitely not a threat. Cocaine I would say is the only other majorly available drug, but like someone else on this forum said, say no thanks, and walk away-no big deal. </p>
<p>Hope this helps! I know it’s like 2 years later, but for anyone else who wants to come here, there’s your basic “ghetto map” to Minneapolis!</p>
<p>I second Kella’s comments. My D is in her junior year there, I’ve spent a substantial amount of time on campus as I do business in the cities often, and I feel very comfortable with the campus and surrounding area. I’m not fond of the Lake St area once you get East away from Uptown, but have been there numerous times during the day and it’s fine.</p>
<p>One thing I will add, and it is good advice for ALL campuses, guard your drinks at parties with a vengence AND have a sober buddy with you who brings their own beverage in an enclosed container they keep in their possession at all times. A friend’s D was “ruffied” and raped this year at a private party with “good” kids. It’s a different world out there and even if they are being “responsible” things can happen (and to people we actually know). Take precautions on every campus.</p>