<p>Sorry if this subject has been touched on already, however, I've heard that outside of the campus is pretty dangerous. Part of me thinks if you act stupid then stupid things will happen to you, and then other thinks it's just people not wanting me to apply there this fall. Can anyone elaborate on this? Also where is the best place/area to stay when I make my visit in a few weeks?</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>South Bend has a crime problem, but most of the victims are not students. Unless they are doing stupid things, such as walking around in an intoxicated state in some of the marginal neighborhoods near campus. The development of the Eddy Street Commons area and the redevelopment of several residential streets near Notre Dame Avenue has helped to push some of the bad stuff and people further from campus.</p>
<p>SB has fairly typical, small city crime. Some break-ins in the suburban cul-de-sacs in Granger during the work day when everyone is at work and the houses are empty, some robberies of stores, more often on the west side of SB, and some violence among teens when drugs are involved. </p>
<p>Eddy St Commons to the south and the generally faculty neighborhood just west of Eddy St (Harter Heights) is perfectly safe. </p>
<p>Every year, there are stories of drunk students who walk home from a party on Corby St or Howard St at 3am and get mugged. Some times student houses in that area get broken into over winter break. All in all, perfectly safe if you are not stupid. </p>
<p>In terms of where to stay, Ivy Court and Fairfield Inn on Angela (at Eddy St Commons) are right next to campus; there is also the Inn at St Mary’s and Hilton Garden Inn by St Mary’s College – 3 minutes from campus. Lots of national chains line Rt 933, also called Dixie Highway, north of campus. More hotels 10 minutes away in Mishawaka, off Grape Rd (the big-box shopping area). Depending on when you come in to visit, staying downtown at the Doubletree Inn could be good – a nice restaurant row, with Cafe Navarre, Trios jazz club, a tapas restaurant, Fiddler’s Hearth (Irish pub with live music) etc. Can feel pretty quiet, especially in the early part of the week, picks up as you get closer to the weekend, especially if you are in town for “first fridays” – first Friday of the month when there is lots of music etc downtown.</p>