<p>The neighborhood disparaged as “seedy” is actually a gentrified neighborhood the residents view as a safe neighborhood. The attack was completely random and done by two gang members, one who lives about 5 miles from USC, the other 60 miles from USC. The victims were foreign born students sitting in a BMW, double parked at 1:00 a.m. The motive was apparently robbery since items belonging to the students were recovered. It was reported by a witness that the students refused to acede to the gunmen. This will likely be confirmed at trial. </p>
<p>Below is the most thorough, recent overview of safety at USC and the surrounding area. A great deal of additional information can be obtained on the USC website or a Google search: </p>
<p>[The</a> Fictive Persona: Is USC Safe?](<a href=“http://thefictivepersona.blogspot.com/2012/04/is-usc-safe.html]The”>The Fictive Persona: Is USC Safe?)</p>
<p>i will not comment on the misrepresentations or motivations of a prior poster. Suffice it to say, he closely identifies with another fine private California university. The rapid ascendency of USC has been welcomed by most, but not all. </p>
<p>I think it is most important that prospective students and parents have a clear and unbiased understanding of the safety at USC and the surrounding areas. As the parent of an entering freshman, I have been greatly impressed with the emphasis USC places on educating students how to safely negotiate an urban environment, be it L.A., East Palo Alto, NYC, Rome or Paris. I think this education is as invaluable as the exceptional academic and social skills refinement USC offers.</p>