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<p>Wow. Really? You know about 20% of the unemployed population have a college degree?Being homeless doesn’t mean you’re a creep, out to harm people, a drug addict, or any of the other homeless stereotypes. It means you don’t have stable source of income. Period.</p>
<p>To reply to the OP, I agree with all that said as long as you’re smart and careful, you’ll be okay.</p>
<p>No you are not safe. I know a girl who went there instead of UC Davis - she got raped. She went to the store late at night came back to campus was taken into some bushes and raped. She quit SC and, after several years of regrouping and counseling, went to UCSD. I also know a guy - Geology student - he was mugged several times while attending USC. He attended a total of four semesters. There are many great schools in California. Going to USC will put your personal safety at risk. Why bother? Go somewhere else</p>
<p>I went to USC - it is not safe. I know two other people who went to USC and both were victims of crime. I left after one year and went to UC Berkeley.</p>
<p>Wow, way to dig up a thread from 6 months ago.</p>
<p>Anyways, I’ve never been assaulted or robbed at USC. My anecdote beats yours.</p>
<p>The more important question is WHEN did you go to USC? Yes, the area was not safe 20, 15, maybe even 7 or 8 years ago – but since around 2005 it has been phenomenally safe. The riff raf has moved further east/south and the remaining non-student residents in the area love USC and what it does for the community.</p>
<p>Nice try. If any incoming students/parents are worried about safety, I suggest we start a new thread and/or you consult DPS’s website.</p>
<p>Anyone can be raped or mugged. It would be ignorant to say attending a school other than USC will prevent your chances of being a victim of a crime. At Berkeley, students are escorted to their dorms after midnight by the Cubs Police(if you want), but it’s encouraged to walk with a buddy or group at night time. For all you know, you could get mugged or raped IN your dorm(it’s happened), USC or UCLA. All you can do is be safe. Not one school can guarantee safety.</p>
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<p>i came pretty close to being assaulted. I was on exposition toward vermont and some stranger, who was possibly on some type of drug, thought i was following him and was about to get into a fight with me. i persuaded him not to, and we went on our opposite ways, but i still stay from exposition when i’m walking by USC. This was at 5pm too, and the sun was out. This was also maybe in 2007/2008.</p>
<p>Let’s not be naive and say that the neighborhood isn’t dangerous. The reason there isn’t a large affluent community in that area is because the neighborhood is notoriously dangerous, and that’s not going to change. It being dangerous is irrelevant of whether you feel safe or not.</p>
<p>yes i know that crimes happen in westwood too, but let’s not try to imply that they happen with the same frequency.</p>
<p>Beyphy you motivated me with your continued interest in finding bad things to post about USC. </p>
<p>So, I went to the UCLA and USC data reports for crimes which reflect crime for the three years 2007-2009. All data I include below is for the 3 years in total. They include on-campus and off-campus reported crimes I believe.</p>
<p>Murder/Manslaughter UCLA - 0 USC - 0
Sex offenses UCLA - 77 USC - 44
Robbery UCLA - 29 USC - 81
Assualt UCLA - 67 USC - 42
Burglary UCLA - 523 USC - 235
Drug and Alcohol referrals and arrests UCLA - 3517 USC - 1178</p>
<p>Disclaimer that I don’t know how the schools choose to “manage” this information but it is required by a federal law, so I assume there is some comparability. I also know the campus class sizes are different and that USC is more “in the hood” and that UCLA is closer to Beverly Hills and the things money brings. Seems that the data support that generally you should be smart and aware when moving around as a young adult. UCLA and USC both have more crime than any student or parent would want, but the assertion you make that the frequency is radically different isn’t supported by the data in their federally required crime reporting. I also suspect that the crime data for both is probably better than crime data for the population of young adults generally. </p>
<p>I know you like to portray yourself as bringing a balanced perspective to counter all of the cheerleding on the usc threads, but you come across as negative, petty and lacking something better to do. I wish you luck in getting a more interesting life. Maybe see if you could get accepted as a transfer to USC. Lots of more interesting stuff to do there than ■■■■■ other schools cc site :)</p>
<p>you’re really naive if you think that those reports are acurate. Dozens of crimes happen everyday, and i would imagine that several of them go unreported. Even if westwood has more crimes happen, it’s absurd to try to imply, as i suspect that you are, albeit indirectly, that it’s a more dangerous neighborhood. Yes, that’s exactly why it’s flocked by a much more affluent community, because it’s more dangerous :rolleyes:</p>
<p>it’s pretty sad that i make a post about on honest experience i had while on USC’s campus and you try to berate me because my comment is ‘negative.’ My posts may not be positive, but they’re honest and genuine.</p>
<p>i’ve said many times that i think USC is a great university, but it’s a great university in a bad neighborhood. So is john hopkins. It would be absurd for anyone to try to claim that john hopkins isn’t in a bad neighborhood because it’s a good university. The two have nothing to do with each other. </p>
<p>Your conclusion is not able to be directly inferred from your data, and hence, your argument sucks. </p>
<p>As much as i like this board, and i do, there are many posts here that are misleading. (including many posts about the nature of the UCs) and so i feel obligated to correct them. No, it isn’t because USC’s my rival school, but because i don’t want to see misconceptions spread.</p>
<p>Beyphy, you continue to annoy me with your constant ■■■■■■■■. Guess what – USC’s neighborhood HAS changed and maybe if you were a bit open minded about it, you would see that the University has done a great deal to improve the safety of the campus and the surrounding neighborhoods. I personally think that USC does a lot more than UCLA in terms of the safety of its students. </p>
<p>What is your definition of “bad”? I’m curious. Since you go to UCLA and probably life in hoity-toity Westwood, you’d probably also think areas like Hollywood and Silver Lake are “bad.” </p>
<p>A “bad” neighborhood is relative; I personally think UCLA is in a “bad” neighborhood because it is frequented by homeless people and theives looking to prey on students and rich residents. Let’s also not forget UCLA had that serial “crotch grabber” running around campus last year. Never heard of anything like that at USC…</p>
<p>Do you think West Adams is “bad” because it’s low income? Like I mentioned before, gang activity is pretty low in the area these days, and most non-student residents are working class Latino families with children who attend the local schools. I lived in non-USC housing in mixed neighborhoods during my junior and senior years at USC and NEVER experienced any violence or antagonism from the local residents. In fact, the non-students I lived near made it a point to look out for us. I treated them with respect and, in turn, they did they same for me and my friends; they watched our houses when we were away, took our mail for us, etc. Really “bad” neighborhood, yeah?</p>
<p>Also – have you ever considered that SOME students might like the mixed urban environment of USC? I personally hate how whitewashed and “rich” the UCLA area is. I prefer to live around people from all ethnic and income backgrounds because I feel it keeps me more grounded and I find the areas to be more diverse.</p>
<p>The truth of the matter is that UCLA and USC are both in Los Angeles and, like any other major city in the United States (ie: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, SF) it is an urban environment with a wide range of residents. Just like LA, any area in the cities I mentioned can be “bad” because anyone bent on causing trouble can travel to any part of the city. I’m sure you’ve heard of murders happening in areas like Santa Monica – heck, some guy just got shot down in the Wilshire/Mid-City area which is all families and young professionals…not to mention, close to UCLA. </p>
<p>“Bad” people exist everywhere in large cities. Just because the West Adams neighborhood was a rough patch of land during the 90s doesn’t mean things can’t change. Look at Silver Lake and Echo Park; 20 years ago, they were gang hotbeds and now they house mostly hipsters, young families and middle class individuals. USC’s neighborhood – primarily with the help of USC itself – has changed dramatically and I won’t be surprised if, in 10 more years, it’s the new Silver Lake of Los Angeles.</p>
<p>So please – stop trying to scare the parents and prospective students away. As someone who lived around USC (a female, I might add) and as someone who lives in an area I bet you’d consider was “bad,” I don’t think you have much room to talk. Try living outside of Westwood and maybe you can have some insight into this. Not everything is Urban Outfitters and expensive restaurants in LA.</p>
<p>I’m a native of Los Angeles and have always lived on the westside. I think all residents of LA are a little nervous about the area around USC. I think it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and never simply assume you are safe anywhere. Many amazing schools are in areas that require students to be aware of their surroundings. Try Yale or Penn. Areas don’t define schools and fear doesn’t make an area bad.</p>
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<p>Ah beyphy, what I love about you is how erudite and well-spoken you are. </p>
<p>I’m in a good mood today so I’m not going to bother pointing out the hypocrisy of challenging raddad’s actual police statistics while you constantly quote statistically questionable polls to back up your arguments for nebulous assessments of things like “prestige”.</p>
<p>Facts, beyphy, are stubborn things.</p>
<p>I lived in SF for 10 years. Trust me the homeless capital of the world. college kids simply have to get used to it in big cities…and the answer is they aren’t criminals. they might “creep you out” but generally not dangerous. That said, don’t be stupid, because many of them have mental illness…not dangerous…just not healthy. </p>
<p>And my own anecdote is this. Since I’ve never known anyone that’s been robbed or assaulted on USC’s campus…then it never happens. Which is the opposite of “i’ve known someone that was assaulted, therefore it always happens.”</p>
<p>^^kudos to Zelda Fitzgerald. That was pretty persuasive lol</p>
<p>Oh, you know…Doing my best to keep the ■■■■■■ at bay.</p>
<p>It’s actually just a real big pet peeve of mine when people bring up the “USC isn’t safe! Ooh! Low income neighborhood!” crap. It isn’t 1992 anymore, people!</p>
<p>i guess if we’re going to keep bumping this thread i’ll contribute</p>
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<p>Yes because assessments of prestige by thousands of scholars is the EXACT SAME THING as crime reports. As i said, the ‘reports’ themselves are obviously only of ‘reported’ crimes. Even many rapes don’t go reported. I’d imagine there’s tons of break ins that don’t get reported to the police. Unless you have insurance for your purchases, what’s the point of doing so? you and the police are both pretty sure you’re never going to see your stuff again. </p>
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<p>Guess what – i agree. And if you did a bit more research, you’d see that i’ve actually endorsed and defended this view. Then what the hell am i talking about? the area IMEDIATELY OUTSIDE usc is still very dangerous. Sure, most of the people living there (i’d say around ~90%) aren’t the ones doing the breakins, but there are plenty of others who are. And guess what? USC is very close to the people and neighborhood who do these things. </p>
<p>How many times do you find youself going south or east of USC? i’d imagine rarely if ever, because those neighborhoods are dangerous. Pretty much starting with king the neighborhoods start progressively getting worse.</p>
<p>USC may have indeed improved the neighborhood, but there’s only so much that they can do.</p>
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<p>probably living in a place as you put it where people have to ‘look out for us’ as you put it.</p>
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<p>Yes because hollywood and silverlake are the exact same thing as south LA :rolleyes:</p>
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<p>USC is frequented by just as many if not more homeless people than westwood is. There are probably way more thieves who pray on non-students near USC than near UCLA.</p>
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<p>that was largely due to the women who it happened to, for some reason or another, not reporting it. It didn’t have to do with incompetence on the part of the westwood police.</p>
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Even if it is low in west adams, let’s not try to be naive and say that it is as well south of exposition, which is essentially like 3 blocks away from USC. </p>
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and there are plenty of others who have and had bad things happen to them as well. What’s your point?</p>
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<p>i like how you try to paint UCLA as the <em>rich</em> school. Except you guys pay like 20k more in tuition than we do. UCLA is mostly frequented by the upper-middle class, whereas USC is frequented by many middle class as well, but also plenty of super rich people. </p>
<p>UCLA is one of the most ethnically diverse schools around with a rich culture from people everywhere. It may be in one of the most affluent neighborhoods in the city, but the vast majority of people who go here are not rich (e.g. having a family income of 250k or more) because those people usually go to privates.</p>
<p>And yes, I’m sure you have a ton of interaction with the local residents that live there whenever you contribute to the local economy by going to places like the Baldwin Hills Mall or many of the other smaller businesses :rolleyes:</p>
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i don’t deny this, but lets not also try to deny that the people who pay millions of dollars for homes in these neighborhoods also do so with the hopes of paying for a safer neighborhood. Sure, crime <em>can</em> happen anywhere, but lets not deny that it usually happens in less affluent areas. Compton, South L.A., and Watts are notorious for this for these reasons. </p>
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sure it’s possible, but i sincerely doubt it. Even as much as USC gentrifies the neighborhood (which i’m sure will be met with more and more opposition by the local residents) it can only go so far, and the people who cause trouble who live in that area will still live very close. So again, i doubt it, but don’t deny that it’s possible.</p>
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<p>Yes, what do i know, i’ve only lived in LA my whole life in various parts of the city :rolleyes:</p>
<p>you can say what you want. I’m an honest guy, if i ever genuinely feel that USC has changed its imagine completely, i will speak up, but USC is just a small oasis in a desert. It’s very nice, but outside of it there’s nothing but sand…</p>
<p>Lots of speculation in beyphy’s post, a disregard for statistics (underreporting!), and yet a love of nebulous “prestige” rankings.</p>
<p>He thinks his impressions are tantamount to everyone else’s reality.</p>
<p>Ah, yes, USC must be the rich school because of its higher nominal tuition, notwithstanding the generous merit and need-based financial aid. Wonder what other dated stereotypes he’ll bring up.</p>
<p>I hear that the school hires scary homeless people to mug all the new USC students at Orientation, so they’ll “get used to it”.</p>
<p><a href=“sarcasm,%20if%20you%20can’t%20tell”>size=1</a>[/size]</p>
<p>Current students, what is your take on the rate of theft within the dorm. We visited a college a few months ago that had wardrobes that could be padlocked. When you share a room with just one other person, that seemed a bit extreme. But do students generally keep their doors locked? Does each hall have restricted access or just the dorm itself. (Son is going into Birnkrant.) Son is in for big change security-wise as we live in a community where we don’t have to lock anything! Son goes to public boarding school now and doesn’t lock his door there either (although the hall has restricted access). </p>
<p>In this day and age students have thousands of dollars worth of electronics in their room. Can some current students give us some tips on how to protect your belongings?</p>
<p>When I was in a dorm, I always locked my door when I left the room and my roommate wasn’t there. I never had anything stolen. I remember the door was unlocked a couple times when I came back to the room, when my roommate forgot to lock it. Still nothing stolen. I do know people who have had things stolen though.</p>
<p>In Birnkrant, the main door is swipe-card access at all times, meaning only students can get in (or someone opens the door for them). Once you’re in, the elevator and stairwell access requires swiping as well. From there it’s free access I think. You might need to swipe to get from the stairwell to the halls.</p>
<p>As long as your son doesn’t leave all his expensive things out and near the door then I seriously doubt there will be a problem. Even if he does I doubt there will be a problem. Don’t need to do anything ridiculous like locking stuff in a box when he’s gone. And I just left my laptop on my desk all the time. Most thefts are by other students, so the best security system is to be friends with everyone in the hall so they’ll keep an eye out for you.</p>