<p>“Police reports indicate a verbal exchange between students and others escalated into a physical fight which led to the stabbing,” and death of the student. </p>
<p>Unfortunately these tragic events happen everywhere. This happened 3 months ago in the actual backyard of the fraternity, in a very “safe” neighborhood. And the circumstances are almost identical to the sad event at USC yesterday. So which place is more dangerous Cal or SC? </p>
<p>JC, thank you for qualifying and apologizing for your hurtful first post.</p>
<p>I do not see however, how you feel you were “misinterpreted.” I have read and reread that first line: “I live in Los Angeles and have always wondered why any parent would want their D or S to attend USC.” I cannot find any way to intepret it other than you are accusing USC parents such as myself of not being concerned for the safety of their children. What DID you mean by those words, if I have “misinterpreted” it?</p>
<p>I don’t see anything wrong or hurtful about OP’s post but then my kids are not going to USC so I am not sensitive about their choice of college. A university being located in a “shady” area would be deal breaker for me but once again, everyone is different, as is our threshold for fear/anxiety and so too our choices as a result.</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman at a school that is also known for having some inherent danger, in that an adjacent neighborhood has a not-to-be-ignored level of violent crime. Statistically, this violence doesn’t make it’s way on to the campus, but crimes of opportunity (stealing unattended items) does. </p>
<p>When we considered this college for our daughter, we weighed this risk against the excellence of the education she could get there. I guess in some ways I weighed this in the same way that we’ve weighed the risks involved in visiting foreign countries, helping in clinics or shelters where there are sick people, or even learning to scuba dive or rock climb. Some of the most interesting and important activities in life include a measure of risk. Attempting to avoid all risk results in missing many of life’s great adventures. We’ve chosen to engage, but with care.</p>
<p>Let me restate my opening statement: As a parent of college age children, the location of USC would be a high deterrent in considering the school. My opinion, not intended to insult or accuse anyone of anything. It was a gut reaction to the news of the morning. It is an excellent school with an excellent reputation. In my neighborhood, USC flags hang proudly in front of many homes. Again no judgment here, just a shocked reaction.<br>
No one expects their child to have their life cut short and we spend a life time protecting and guiding and hopefully giving them the tools to survive and succeed. It is a sad day when these dreams are extinguished. And yes as others have said, it can happen anywhere. My experience, is local and that is what I reacted to.</p>
<p>There are so many things to worry about as a college student (at USC or elsewhere), it’s not worth worrying a lot about something that is so very statistically unlikely. It means doing as much as possible to stay safe, and being cautious, sure, but not so much to make me stop attending.</p>
<p>JC: you don’t have a clue about how a lot of young people behave. My guess is you were not an outgoing party type in college. this tragic death has nothing to do with the neighborhood and everything to do with alcohol, insults, and rash/risky decisions. If it is the “neighborhood” then how do you explain the Cal student knife murder a few months ago…that was at 2am with a lot of alcohol as well.</p>
<p>Even good kids let down their guard, make poor decisions and take risks they normally would not when liquored up. (Liquor is the number one date rape drug you know.) I know my Ds normally will make good decisions about going out at night alone, walking through certain areas, etc. However, what I don’t know is whether they have that same thought process after drinking a bit. There really is never a good reason to drink until drunk…and seldom good consequences. Moderation is the key.</p>
<p>I absolutely agree regarding the alcohol… I do have a clue how they party, I raised 5. That is why I spoke to the fact that they think they are invincible. Alcohol was definitely a factor, as it often is with incidents on any campus. There are tragedies on or near college campuses across the country. ALL I am saying is that for ME as a parent, if I can control the environment where the campus is located, I would. I am not trying to explain any other incident and there are mutiple variables involved in any tragedy. There are factors we have some choices about and there are those we don’t. As a parent you do your best to educate your kids about alcohol and alcohol related risks, ie: poor judgment, drinking and driving, etc. But the truth is once they move out you have no control. My children were not sheltered and went out into the world with their eyes wide open, but there are those factors of feeling invincible, that “it won’t happen to me”, too trusting or what ever. Therefore as a parent, the safety of a campus and it’s location was a discussion factor in our home. I still believe that in another part of town, these students may not have been engaged in a conversation that elevated to a knife stabbing. Thank you for all your comments on this topic…I participate on CC for discussion, but unfortunately this discussion seemed to start poorly(taking responsibility for that) and went bad…I have apologized and I will now bow out.</p>
<p>I DO think parents and students should EDUCATE themselves about the location of colleges and the surrounding areas. Some are located in high crime areas and would create a clear danger if Johnny or Susie go off campus…whereas in one town a conversation or disagreement may end in a fist fight, another ends in knives and guns. Campussafety.org is a start for anyone researching colleges… find out what to look for. I agree that a town like L.A. or ATL…should be handled with the student differently than a more rural area. Ga Tech is basically in the midst of one of the oldest subsidized housing projects in the Country and has had a high rate of crimes…but is trying to clean up and I heard they have razed some of the apts…and will rebuild. Emory on the other hand is in the middle of a very high end community. BUT that said, each school has safety measures in place–shuttles to help keep students safe even late at night. Call boxes. Escorts after dark…and of course taxis. Students need to learn to use them.</p>
<p>I think parents and students should educate themselves about rates of binge drinking and heavy drinking on campus. Both are associated with high rates of on-campus felonies (and, hence, student felons), far higher than the rate of felonies in surrounding neighborhoods: rapes, sexual asaults, aggravated battery, assaults, burglaries.</p>
<p>If you go to campussafety.org, you will see that September is nicknamed the “Red Zone” for its high rate of sexual assaults and rapes on campus, committed by student felons. Your kids and mine are going to school with these felons, and may even consider them their friends.</p>