Hi
I’m going to UIC as Freshman but I’m worried about the safety issues.
My first impression during the orientation was that all the doors in the school have locks including the bathrooms. Bruh I get safety alert emails (someone got robbed etc.) every few days.
Anyone living in Chicago? I wonder if I can get advice/tips how to avoid trouble in the city?
I would choose safety over enjoying the life, of course.
UIC is in an “ok” neighborhood. Not great but not the areas your on the news these days. You need to be aware of your surroundings and be careful to avoid potentially bad situations. Be aware that things can change block by block. One block may have no isssues and the next you’re in the middle of a bad situation.
I had a big homeless guy keep walking behind me just to ask for money
That was when I went to school for orientation haha
I had a big suitcase with me and maybe that triggered him as the target
Anyways it scared me a lot
I never had it before
I think there are homeless people in every major city. Generally south of downtown is worse than north of downtown. I wouldn’t be downtown after dark unless there is something going on. #1 poster is correct that things can change quickly. I’m guessing the big suitcase didn’t help your cause. Travelling with other people is generally a good idea especially at night.
Take regular precautions such stay away from questionable areas at night, walk quickly and assertively, stay in groups, pay attention k to surroundings, tell people where and with whom you are going and when you will be back, dont enter an area such as an open door to an apartment that looks suspicious, call the police when concerned, dont go anywhere with anyone you dont know, if you are told come with me or Ill hurt you. For myself, Id rather be shot on the street than go off and get who knows what and then shot, dont assume a college is safe such as stay away from poorly lit grounds and areas with trees and bushes, dont enter college restrooms alone at nighttime. Chicago is probably as safe as lots of areas in large cities. Small schools in or small towns may appear safer, but also can be dsngerous. Use your head, pay attention, dont get drawn in by others assurances that you will be ok, …
I live-in Chicago since 1980’s. As stated know your surroundings. Talk to the school about the good /bad blocks /area’s to go to. Use your phone but don’t flaunt it either. Put it away when not using it. UIC is safe on campus. Travel with others and find people that know the surrounding areas .
Chicago has wonderful places to go and see. My kids now 19/21 took busses to trains to high school. Get to know the “El” well and how to get around. Walk with confidence and with a pace. When someone approaches me for money etc I just say “no thank you” and move on. Don’t stop to have a conversation since they could work in groups.
Go downtown and enjoy it even after dark. Great plays /music /food to be had. Just do it with others or when you really know your way around.
Don’t use headphones or ear buds a lot. You won’t know when someone is behind you or approaching you. Again know your surroundings. Keep campus police phone number on your phone. Don’t leave your possessions by themselves like at a coffee shop when you go to the rest room. All of this applies to any big city.
Just thinking about this. Don’t go through alleys especially in your school area. This is where a lot of mugging and rape occur. Walk around not through the block.
But saying all of this… Go to the taste of Greek Town and Logan Square fest this weekend. Jazz fest is coming up soon. Explore the neighborhoods but know where you are going to. Lots of student tickets for museums and plays. On Tuesdays (look up first) go to the museum of contemporary art. It is free on Tuesday and they have wonderful “live” Jazz there on the terrace. It is magical on a nice night. Read the Reader and Metro times or just search… “things to do in Chicago” and there is always a ton of things to do. And if course… Study
The neighborhoods around UIC certainly has changed over the years. In this case, mostly for the better. On the other hand, lots of trouble can be found not too far away. Don’t go due west or southwest unless you are going to the United Center. Get to know where not only the good neighborhoods are, but also the bad ones.
It sounds like majority of people living in the city have experience of getting robbed at least once…
I lived there the first 21 years of my life in a not-so-good neighborhood on the Southwest Side with gangs all over the place. Commuted to DePaul in Lincoln Park and downtown for 4 years. Never got robbed, almost got pickpocketed once but I turned away just in time. That’s about it. My tiny neighborhood bank ripped me off of $1200 because of a clerical error that I couldn’t prove, that’s the worst thing that happened to me in Chicago.
You just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times and keep your head on a swivel. Put away headphones and cellphones and jewelry.
You hear about all the shootings that take place in Chicago every weekend, that’s usually all on the South Side and West Side.
I concur… I live 6 blocks west of Wrigley Field but when I bought my house in 1992 there was gang graffiti on the garages etc. People thought we were crazy. 6 months later Starbucks came and now we are in a very sought after area. As said what you hear about is very small pockets but extremely unsafe areas. We never had any issues raising our kids in the city. They took trains to buses to get to most places even in like middle school age. You just have to be city aware as stated. It is an extremely liveable city with really cool neighborhoods. We just went to Pilsen on the Art opening night and had drinks and dinner at La Vacha… All UIC and U of C students… Besides feeling old it was slot of fun…
1992 was close to the peak of the crime wave in the US generally. Crime in the US is much lower generally than it was then, though you would not think it based on how fearful of crime people are today.
There is definitely an uptick of crime in our area. I only wear ear buds when I am running but people around here wear the new fangled Apple ones like their jewelry.
I would suggest a text buddy system with your roommate or friend. I tell my kids I need to know where they are so I can tell the police to where to start looking for your body or they have like 1 hour to find you… Such a great dad…
They actually do a great job at this and it’s simple… I went to the Sox game last week. It ended around 11:00 pm. So I let my wife know when I was getting on the El train to go home. Once I was close to my stop, I let her know that I am getting off and walking home. Pretty simple stuff.