<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.”
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