<p>Thought provoking article in the NY Times addresses two related issues of equal concern to many parents and students - the lack of adequate on campus housing and off campus security.</p>
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...It is true that most universities work hard to keep their campuses safe. But it also true that many colleges do not have enough housing for their undergraduates. Many students live off campus, and the security of those residences is generally not the responsibility of the college...</p>
<p>Locally, college administrators grapple with the issue of safety to varying degrees, depending on the percentage of students who live off campus. Sarah Lawrence College, on 41 wooded acres that border Bronxville and Yonkers, houses 87 percent of its 1,200 undergraduates on campus. Security in residence halls is tight. Most dormitories are kept locked day and night. Deliveries, like flowers, FedEx or food, must be made to a main desk, not individual rooms. Security officers patrol residence halls.</p>
<p>But what of the 13 percent of students who live off campus? ...</p>
<p>At Purchase College, about 35 percent of students live off campus. Some commuting students live with their parents; others rent nearby...</p>
<p>At Pace University’s campus in Pleasantville, about 2,600 of the 3,700 students are commuters, and administrators do not know how many of them live with their parents and how many live by themselves. Darnita Killian, vice president for student affairs, said that the school tried to be helpful to students looking for off-campus housing but that it did not make recommendations about its quality or safety...
<p>College is a good time to learn about being responsible for your own safety because guess what--in a few short years you will be out there in some probably larger tougher city getting a job and a place to live. Most college towns are pretty safe compared to the larger cities.</p>
<p>Yes, absolutely - that is one of the thoughts that came to mind immediately as well as that, for the most part, students who choose to live off-campus are a pretty mature, savvy bunch. The NY Times article features the Bonistal family's laudable efforts to certify safe off-campus housing for students at universities and colleges across the country. Their primary aim is to promote safety and personal security awareness at colleges and for high school seniors.</p>
<p>How important a plus is guaranteed on-campus housing (and the campus security arrangements that comes along with it) - whether for all 4 years or for just for the freshmen and sophomores - when it comes to the college search? </p>
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...The Lindsey M. Bonistall Foundation is a certified off-campus housing program which the Bonistalls hope to bring to all schools across the nation. Already they have chapters starting up at the University of Delaware, University of Kentucky, Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania. Working together with local law enforcement agencies, the municipality, the university, the students and the landlords or landlord associations, PEACE OUTside Campus sets standards for safety, conducts inspections of residences and certifies those in compliance. Certified residences are then listed on both the Foundation and college’s Web site. Mark Bonistall, chairman of the Foundation, says the benefit to landlords is free marketing and listing of their property, but more importantly, parents and students have an “avenue of selection.”
<p>30 years ago my alma mater had the same town and gown problems it has today. With kids who live off campus and make trouble, the college says, "They are not on our campus, but live in your city--arrest them, then we can punish them." The police say "Why can't you control your kids?"</p>
<p>If you're over 18 and living off campus, you should be treated by the police like any other citizen who breaks the law (in my opinion).</p>
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How important a plus is guaranteed on-campus housing (and the campus security arrangements that comes along with it) - whether for all 4 years or for just for the freshmen and sophomores - when it comes to the college search?
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<p>It was hugely important as my daughter honed in on Columbia as her first choice school. Academics aside, I know West Philadelphia well and the possibility of her living in an apartment at some time during her time there made Penn much less appealing to me (as a parent).</p>
<p>One thing the NYT's article does not address is where students must go to find off campus housing. I know at many colleges the housing in areas near the campus are rental properties catering to students. Our son moved off campus after freshman year by choice, living about 3 blocks from campus. I would guess that about 75% of the residents in the area are students with many of them being grad students.</p>
<p>In such an environment, we have not been concerned about his safety. But there certainly are situations where security certainly could be a concern</p>