<p>I as a new SC parent am appalled and shaken by this. However, there was even a murder at Cal last year (a fight right by the Row). I hope they find the guy who did this. It will be interesting to how the school reacts in terms of increasing patrols, etc.</p>
<p>My college roommate was murdered one block from Harvard Square.</p>
<p>Every year, alcohol is the cause of more than 696,000 assaults, and 97,000 instances of sexual assault or date rape among college students (Hingson, et al., 2005). In addition, 11 percent of students damaged property while under the influence of alcohol (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2008).</p>
<p>On campus is far more dangerous. And the felons are students.</p>
<p>Here is a weekly homicide map of greater Los Angeles. You can click on the week in the bar graph at the top, and it maps out where the homicides occurred. You can also zoom in and out on the map, and view it as a satellite photo. </p>
<p>To find USC on the map, it is located west of the 105 Fwy, and several blocks south of Interstate 10. UCLA is located northeast of the junction of Interstates 405 and 10.</p>
<p>In defense of the OP, I also live in the LA area and it's just a fact that USC is in a very high crime area. It doesn't mean you shouldn't send your child there, just be aware of this. Of course, tragedies can happen anywhere. But, this is an urban school surrounded by all of the challenges that come with the location.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Notice to the Community</p>
<p>I regret to inform the USC community of the tragic death of one of our
own. Cinematic Arts student Bryan Richard Frost was stabbed during an
early morning off-campus altercation, and was pronounced dead after
transport to California Hospital. After the stabbing, the assailant
fled the scene. The incident is being aggressively investigated by
LAPD.</p>
<p>I know that you join me in sympathy for Bryans family and friends.
This young man was clearly highly accomplished and motivated; he was
pursuing his second bachelors degree at USC. As his colleagues and
co-students, we are all grieving today. Anyone affected by this tragedy
is asked to contact the Student Counseling Center or Student Affairs.</p>
<p>Last nights incident was highly unusual in that an unfortunate turn
of events brought about violence when an argument turned into a
fistfight and then a stabbing. Overall, crime in our community has been
steadily decreasing in the past two years, but this tragic death, and
earlier instances this semester remind us that personal safety and
community safety begins with each individual in the Trojan Family.</p>
<p>We remind our students to avail themselves of the many protections in
place to ensure their safety and to encourage their friends to do so as
well. Presentations on safety and security are given at orientation, at
residence halls, and through the Greek Council and Student Government
throughout the year. Through the United for a Safer Community
Campaign, we monthly walk our neighborhoods and provide crime
deterrence information to residents and community members.</p>
<p>The Campus Cruiser system is available to provide rides to students
from 5 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. each day. On average, about 4,000 trips are
conducted each week through this system. We will be immediately
reviewing this system to see what we need to do to encourage more
students to use it, and to see whether we need to extend the night-time
hours of operation.</p>
<p>USC has one of the nations largest university-based public safety
offices, with more than 230 security officers and staff members. DPS
patrols the University Park campus and the surrounding area constantly,
and works very closely with LAPD to pay special attention to emerging
threats and situations in the community. On any night, during the peak
hours of student activity in and around the campus, a minimum of 35 DPS
members are patrolling or serving at fixed stations to deter crime and
respond to calls for service. During other times a minimum of 20
members are doing the same.</p>
<p>In addition, DPS recently signed a new memorandum of understanding with
the LAPD that provided additional support to the campus community
through the assignment of an LAPD detective, a senior lead officer, and
a night-time LAPD patrol vehicle to the UPC. This is allowing us to
provide a more coordinated approach to crime suppression. Over the last
two years, we have also worked together to increase physical and
electronic monitoring in many high-traffic areas both on- and
off-campus.</p>
<p>Despite all of these preparations and systems in place, the security of
the members of the Trojan Family is a collective responsibility.
Students are reminded that each individual is the first link in the
chain of security. Please remember that Trojans helping Trojans can
suppress crime in our community.</p>
<p>Again, our deepest condolences to the families and friends of Bryan
Frost we will keep them in our thoughts.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
Michael L. Jackson
Vice President for Student Affairs
[/quote]
</p>
<p>As disturbing as this recent spike in violent crime against students is, at very least, it's a spike - it's certainly not typical.</p>
<p>This is so so very sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the young man.</p>
<p>Let's focus on telling our kids to be aware and not bash other schools, this does absolutely nothing to unite the good people. We end up giving the power to the criminals. Crime, unfortunately can happen everywhere. We need to stick together as parents and students.</p>
<p>Nice link UCLABandMom</p>
<p>I clicked through the first six months of this year. One homicide occured not far from UCLA (Sawtelle in West LA), and one near USC (near the Coliseum).</p>
<p>1-1. I did not see any more risk near the USC campus itself than UCLA... that's just for six months, but I agree with other posters.... there is nowhere in the world completely safe.</p>
<p>Well I just got home and i have just read through the posts. I apologize if I was misinterpreted. My post was not meant in any way to diminish the USC admin, faculty or community, nor the families who have students there. I do know that they put extensive efforts into safety and work within the community. I attended MSMC a few blocks from USC. I am familiar with the area. The community is poor but a proud community, unfortunately there is an element that does increase the crime.
My reaction this morning is the reaction of someone who does get local news and comments from students who attend. My heart goes out to this family and their loss and the news this morning grabbed my heart. Perhaps my reaction came from anothe senseless loss of a young life. My comments about using safety as a priority was OUR list as a family. My son was assaulted at 18 and we are careful. My concern is that many of the big schools are in urban areas that have neighborhoods around them and parents aren't always aware when taken on the tours. I was actually opening a discussion of how many schools with proud traditions have a difficult task with safety. Albeit I was unclear as it was quite early this morning.
Just some responses to posters...the initial report did say it occurred on campus. It was later stated, after my post, it was just off campus. Much of the housing is just off campus. I know there is crime everywhere, but some areas have more concentration and college students quite often feel invincibles and socialize late and become more vulnerable.
Again my apologies, but I would ask that those who were so quick to judge my intentions also be careful how they post.
May we all remind our students to be safe in all there environments. And pray for this family and their tragic loss.</p>
<p>Not trying to diminish the murder outside USC, but when I was young....and had first moved to Maine from NY state... I never worried about "crime" or issues like that..... and I was supposed to drive down to NYC to visit some college roommates....bring down an antique chest for a friend....and I was all worried and worked up about having my "new" car in NYC..... would it be broken into......would someone steal stuff out of it... would I have an accident in NYC.....
the net of it was that 2 nites before I was to leave for NYC, my car was broken into right outside my apartment, in the parking lot. I was sooo worried about the big city.....that it happened right outside my apartment. It was actually a relief to realize that stuff happens and you have to be careful and prudent any and everywhere....up to a point. Live a good life and be SMAAAAART....... I had a great time in NYC that weekend.... and I learned to be less afraid of the big city.</p>
<p>I'm so sad for this family. He's a local boy from my city in Idaho and this is our lead story tonight. He'd finished his undergrad at USC in 2007 and was in his second year of grad school there. He was an only child, so this is going to be particularly hard for his family and friends. He must have known the USC area, but was clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time. I agree we should not be quick to judge the decisions we make to let our kids attend outstanding schools near rough neighborhoods. I pray every day that my daughter, at a different school in an urban area, will be careful. Not easy for this demographic who see themselves as immortal and invincible.</p>
<p>I cross the intersection where he was killed two or three times a week, at night. Never felt unsafe.</p>
<p>There isn't very much information on the incident right now except that it was a fist fight that turned into a stabbing. We'll hear more later I'm sure. Crime has been going down around USC for two years now, it is unfortunate that this happened.</p>
<p>Having lived in two city neighborhoods that are universally considered dangerous, I can tell you that it does effect the attractiveness of the college. However, when looking at schools, it is not always the one prime feature. Many times, the danger can be stemmed by just staying away from those off campus locations.</p>
<p>Mini, I agree with you that kids have more incidents happen to them from fellow student and on campus, but those rates have more to do with the students on campus, and not much to be done about them. Have checked crime blotters on those numbers. You can, however, stay away from schools that are in bad neighborhoods so that kids who want to venture out are not as much at risk, For those schools that do not provide 4 years of housing on campus, this can be a challenge, and one of the features that I used to screen out some schools. </p>
<p>Not that it helps much if you have kids who like going into that part of the city where the "action" is when the "action" is occurring. What you do eliminate is that there is not a forced venturing into that territory.</p>
<p>Son wants to go to USC so this is a bit scary. Although I went to grad school in a terrible neighborhood (finding bullet casings on the street outside our class building, at night) I was in my 20s and did not live there. Worried about (as was mentioned) the invincibility of an 18 yo young man. </p>
<p>Once college apps are sent, I think prepping w/'common sense' for self-protective life skills will be on the list.</p>
<p>One good thing for college students---son has gps on his phone. That would eliminate the scenario (son & friends did this) of walking block after block in a city, looking for a music club, and ending up in a very bad neighborhood before turning around.</p>
<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/453299-robert-morris-u-students-murdered.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/453299-robert-morris-u-students-murdered.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/451364-duke-university-grad-student-murdered-last-night-lived-off-campus.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/451364-duke-university-grad-student-murdered-last-night-lived-off-campus.html</a>
The</a> Badger Herald - UW junior found dead in Doty Street home; killer still at large
Father</a> of UC Berkeley slaying suspect says his son was attacked by fraternity members - Los Angeles Times
Columbia</a> University student raped and tortured for approx. 19 hours // Current
University</a> of Missouri student murdered - News
Minot</a> State University Student Murdered - Associated Content
Prosecutors:</a> Killer's own words implicate him in college student's murder - Courttv.com - Trials
The</a> Murder Book 2008: September 2nd -- Confession in Pace University student murder...
University</a> of Tampa student murdered - Topix
Auburn</a> Student Murdered - Murder Auburn Auburn University Lauren Burk
Purdue</a> University Student Murder : Investigation Discovery
BSU</a> student murdered - News
BaldwinCity.com</a> / Murdered Lawrence man was Baker University student
Arrest</a> made in UNT student's death | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Latest News</p>
<p>I think it's a little too easy to dismiss the risk of on- or near-campus crime with advice to "be aware of your surroundings" or "be smart and use common sense" or "street savvy students won't have any problems." Is there any evidence that this latest murdered kid at USC wasn't smart or savvy? For all we know he was the savviest kid in the whole school.</p>
<p>Serious crime certainly happens at many colleges, perhaps all colleges given enough time. But it sure doesn't lower the odds when the school is located in the middle of a tough neighborhood. Seeing the USC security cops and janitors washing the blood off the sidewalk from a broad daylight shooting, as we did last year during our visit to the campus, is pretty sobering.</p>
<p>And it would had been equally sobering if you had seen the car belonging to the murdered student body president in Chapel Hill or the aftermath of the actions of a delusional student who drove his car into a group of students in the Pit at Carolina or the murdered body of the lacrosse player also in Chapel Hill a few years ago.</p>
<p>I don't want to diminish your feelings. I understand. I live only four or five blocks where Brittany Zimmermann was murdered here in Madison. Bad stuff happens. It happens everywhere. </p>
<p>Unfortunately college students, as do other young people, seem especially vulnerable because of their mistaken belief that nothing bad can happen to them. They don't lock their doors or windows. They have expensive things, and they leave them laying about. They get into fights. They drink too much. They cross they street in the middle of the block. They drive their cars and mopeds dangerously. Generally they are obvious to their surroundings.</p>
<p>"Mini, I agree with you that kids have more incidents happen to them from fellow student and on campus, but those rates have more to do with the students on campus, and not much to be done about them."</p>
<p>Huh? You mean to tell me that college administrators can take no action to prevent alcohol-infused rapes and sexual assaults? That they can't do anything about the tens of thousands of student felons they've accepted and to whom they are supposedly providing an education?</p>
<p>"Have checked crime blotters on those numbers."</p>
<p>More than 90% of these crimes are not reported.</p>
<p>I lived in West Philadelphia for 12 years. We were always shocked with the amount of student-on-student crime that took place ON the Penn campus, not that which took place in the surrounding neighborhood where I lived.</p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>Bad stuff happens. It happens everywhere.<< </p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>Are you suggesting that since bad stuff happens everywhere that the nature of the town surrounding a college is of no consequence to the risks faced by students? If so I have to disagree. To the best of my knowledge, there hasn't been a student murdered on or near campus at my alma mater (UC Davis) since the early 1980s. Not all college towns and neighborhoods are of equal risk.</p>
<p>I agree that schools can do things to prevent such tragic events, which is why USC has some of the following programs:</p>
<p>USC Men Care: USC</a> MenCARE | Home
This is a program to teach men how to be proactive in preventing sexual assault and rape on campus. These are taught to men so that they can stop suspicious things happening at parties and in other circumstances. </p>
<p>Also : USC</a> Center for Women & Men
This is a center for those who have experienced gender related harm. It is definitely true that incidents of this type of campuses go vastly under-reported, often times because students don't want to go through the difficult processes of reporting and dealing with the crime. This center helps students discover their options and offers counseling and support. They also have a 24 hour a day support line.</p>
<p>Finally, RAD Training: <a href="https://capsnet.usc.edu/DPS/CrimePrevention/RadRegForm.cfm%5B/url%5D">https://capsnet.usc.edu/DPS/CrimePrevention/RadRegForm.cfm</a></p>
<p>This teaches female students how to defend themselves in bad situations, and also how to avoid those situations in the first place.</p>
<p>Yes, horrible things happen, but at least the university takes significant steps to try to prevent these things from happening again.</p>
<p>My S is at USC & my D will be joining him IN January. We know that there are bad things that happen everywhere--in the US & world. It is very sad when anyone is a victim of violence, but I am still comfortable with my kids at USC. S has never reported feeling afraid in the 2+ years he's been there & I expect D will also be fine.
You can live in fear and try to find the safest options or just live your life as well as you can with your eyes open. I am comfortable that USC does an excellent job of providing a safe environment for its students,, tho it unfortunately prevent or stop all acts of violence.</p>