<p>My daughter wants to live in an off campus apartment next year. It is located at Hoffman Street and 189th one block from Arthur Ave. She says it is all students in the building and has security cameras and locked gate.
How is this area - would a girl be safe? She says after 10 pm there are Fordham vans from campus but how would it safe would it be walking from campus or metro north before after dark but before 10 pm? Or at other times?
Info/advice from Fordham students would be appreciated.</p>
<p>That's the exact dorm where I am going to be living next yr (I'm a soph, rising junior). I'm a guy so I'm not too worried, but it is, of course, very different for a girl. To be honest, the area isn't good. Once you're inside the apartment you're very safe (like she said there are gates all around), but once you step outside, it's a little dicey. On fri. night, I witnessed a girl get robbed right before my eyes on 189th-- guy ran up to her, grabbed her purse (credit cards, money, everything was gone). My friends and I called the police for her (this was at around 1 am). She was only with one other person, however-- I would advise your daughter to travel in large groups. A friend of mine (a guy) got mugged at Fordham Road at 9 pm in our fresh yr. He was listening to his IPod and had his head down, completely unaware of who was around him-- not smart. The key here is to always be aware of your surroundings and to ALWAYS travel in a group of 3 or more people.</p>
<p>I mean i'm not a Fordham student...YET!</p>
<p>but all i have to say is that you shouldn't be worried for your daughter's safety...i mean you should but at the same time...theres nothing one can do if they are gonna get mugged or whatever...if it's gonna happen it's gonna happen...BUT! i would suggest some simple NY living rules, well if you live in the ghetto...</p>
<ol>
<li>Always be on your cell phone[granted if you have one]
that way the mugger or "mean people" would know that there is someone on the other end of the line even if there isn't it makes an illusion,that way theres less of a chance someone will try something funny.
2.Always carry your keys between your fingers[especially if your a girl] sort of like wolverines claw, because if something goes down...it serves as a weapon
3.When arriving at your building, ring the intercom that way people would assume someone is waiting for you upstairs, also they wouldn't think you have keys as to follow you into an elevator.
4.Travel in groups
5.Be aware of your surroundings, just don't look to suspicious, be aloof at the same time, to give off a "yeah, im from here, don't mess with me attitude"
6.have 911 on speed dial if your travelling on your own at NIGHT!</li>
</ol>
<p>LOOOK im in noooooooo way trying to be comical these are just tips and suggestions i've gathered upon observation of my sisters,mom, and female cousins and friends...all these girls are tough</p>
<p>in closing...don't be that worried, people paint the Bronx as being dangerous, truth is...FORDHAM is one of the most crowded places in the city, it is a shopping mecca for people in the Bronx and Uptown Manhattan, so as long as you hold your ground, travel smart...and by that i mean...don't go out sooooooo late on your own on any given moment guy or girl thats just stupid...but yeah its a safe area it isn't as bad as people make it seem and trust me theres probably more dangers lurking in a small town/suburbs than in a big city, in the city the danger is looming in your face whereas in a small town you just don't know where it is...</p>
<p>PEACE</p>
<p>Being on your cellphone is terrible advice. Especially if you have a nice phone it will be an incentive for the Fordham Roadians to rob you.</p>
<p>Keys between your fingers is also kind of useless as they might take they key off you which might result in your apartment being robbed possibly.</p>
<p>If your white(sorry to draw around these lines) especially a girl you aren't possibly going to fool anybody that you're from area. Especially if your a girl with expensive jewelery and a designer handbag just forget it.</p>
<p>Traveling in groups is very important I can't emphasize that enough. It may also be worthwhile to check out New York City's laws on carrying pepper spray(for girls).</p>
<p>While I might seem to be crazy, I am a white male from the North Bronx who has spent a good deal of time in the Fordham/Bedford Park/Bainbridge area. When your in the Bronx, it never hurts to come equipped for warfare.</p>
<p>haha yeah, I don't know if jhendi is being sarcastic or not but in any event, you obviously shouldn't listen to him/her. themk99 brings good advice -- travelling in groups cannot be stressed enough and pepper spray, while it may seem extreme, can turn a dangerous situation into a safe(er) one; you just never know what may happen.</p>
<p>bottom line-- always be aware of your surroundings-- NEVER spend your time talking on a cell phone (a very idiotic suggestion).</p>
<p>Yeah I'd like to live off campus someday... but as a white female, I almost don't want to bother. I travel to the airport alone for breaks and take the Metro North to Grand Central and take the airport shuttle from there... and the Metro North part is the only scary part of the whole journey. You feel that because the train/platform is nice that it's safe--yeah not the case. And add a suitcase and a carry-on bag into the equation... I've had a couple incidents that could've turned bad if I wasn't at the right place at the right time (cops walking by, elevator door closed)</p>