<p>My daughter is a freshman at Lehigh and she is so happy with everything so far. As parents, we have been very impressed with everything we have seen and heard from her. Our biggest concern has always been the surrounding area just off-campus but we were assured of its safety and I know my daughter feels very safe on-campus. However, this fall we have already read about several incidents where students were victims of crime just off-campus. My daughter is already talking about getting a house with friends Junior and Senior year and I do not view this as a safe option for female students. So... I have 2 questions: #1 How difficult is it to get campus housing as a Junior and Senior and #2 Does the University provide any security for their off-campus students.</p>
<p>Any feedback at all from a current student or parent would be sooooo appreciated!!!</p>
<p>My daughter is a junior and living on-campus in a terrific suite. I would say it is the best living situation she has had so far. She and three other girls participated in the lottery to get it without any problems. I would encourage your daughter to find potential roommate(s) who plan to stay on campus, and at least select a lottery number. While I feel the area around the campus is relatively safe during the day, I always tell my daughter never go anywhere alone at night.</p>
<p>Thank you! It’s encouraging to know that there are on-campus options for students. I think my daughter is starting to feel some anxiety and confusion over what to do. I am not sure all the information she is hearing from other students is fully accurate. She is under the impression that on-campus housing is very difficult to get as a Junior or Senior without special circumstances. I remember hearing during a tour of Lehigh that many students wanted to live off-campus so on-campus housing was available for most of the Juniors and Seniors who wanted it.</p>
<p>As a permanent resident of the area (on the other side of the river) I can tell you that South Bethlehem is not a safe place. The police blotter in our local paper has at least one crime per week reported involving Lehigh students.</p>
<p>Given the frightening police reports that I have read involving Lehigh Students being robbed at gun and knife point, I do not understand why the school hasn’t done more to create safe on-campus housing for their students. Does anyone know if this has ever been considered? </p>
<p>Having a daughter I am most frightened of violent crimes against women which I have not read about but I don’t believe those crimes would be publicized.</p>
<p>Part off the problem with on campus housing is that most older students are not really interested in living under the rules imposed by administration. Plus they can live more inexpensively in an off campus apartment.</p>
<p>Stay with a group of people off-campus and you’ll be fine %100 of the time. Almost every incident so far involves a student by his or her self on their own outside the normal off-campus housing areas. </p>
<p>Most off campus houses are on the outskirt of Lehigh’s campus, and the Lehigh Police patrol is regularly. Your daughter would be fine from the rest of south Bethlehem, especially being surrounded by many other Lehigh students that would live with and around her.</p>
<p>what streets tend to have most of the off-campus student housing?</p>
<p>can you you post a few streets so that we can look them up on the maps?</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Another disturbing set of incidents just off campus. I wish the local police and campus security would work together to provide more safety.
[Three</a> Lehigh University students robbed at gunpoint Thursday night - UPDATE | lehighvalleylive.com](<a href=“http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2010/12/three_lehigh_university_studen_1.html]Three”>Three Lehigh University students robbed at gunpoint Thursday night - UPDATE - lehighvalleylive.com)</p>
<p>Scary and sad !
Very hard to think about sending your kid to an unsafe situation.</p>
<p>I have heard that stealing College ID cards are part of some gang initiation.</p>
<p>Two more last night. It is time for the administration to step up and provide more security.
[Two</a> robbed at gunpoint near Lehigh University | lehighvalleylive.com](<a href=“http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2010/12/two_robbed_at_gunpoint_near_le.html]Two”>Two more people robbed near Lehigh University - UPDATE - lehighvalleylive.com)</p>
<p>The robberies occurred outside of where most students would be walking. I do not like to go to Montclair for parties, I feel that it is too far from campus… most students agree with me.</p>
<p>One of the robberies occurred across the river. That is nowhere near campus.</p>
<p>The issue lies with the Bethlehem PD, not the Administration of the University. The LUPD have jurisdiction over Lehigh University… not Bethlehem. The LUPD do an excellent job in general. The Bethlehem PD is not as good. Living off campus, when your campus is situated in an urban environment, there will <em>always</em> be <em>some</em> risk involved. </p>
<p>I have heard nothing but good things about the off campus housing near Hillside Ave and I feel very safe on Hillside and that part of off-campus in general. If I cannot get into a fraternity, I am hoping I can get housing on Meade St.</p>
<p>Another set of robberies this week, three in five days. Lehigh students were on spring break but graduate students were targeted.</p>
<p>[Three</a> Lehigh University students robbed in past five days | lehighvalleylive.com](<a href=“http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2011/03/three_lehigh_university_studen_2.html]Three”>http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2011/03/three_lehigh_university_studen_2.html)</p>
<p>" Through an investigation it has been determined that the robbery of a
student on Saturday night did not occur. </p>
<p>While we are thankful the student was not assaulted, there have been two
other incidents in the past week and it is important that you take steps to
keep yourself safe. Please remember to:</p>
<p>Utilize TRACS (Take a Ride Around Campus Safely). New routes transport
students to the off-campus area bounded by Fourth Street on the north,
Montclair on the west, and Summit Street on the south.A revised TRACS map
can be printed out at [Lehigh</a> University :: Finance & Administration :: Transportation & Parking Services](<a href=“http://www.lehigh.edu/parking/RedRoute.shtml]Lehigh”>http://www.lehigh.edu/parking/RedRoute.shtml).</p>
<p>Call for a safety escort. This service operates from dusk to dawn. To use
the escort service at night, call 610-758-1111. Give dispatchers your name,
present location, and destination. When the escort arrives, show your
Lehigh ID and the officer will walk with you to your destination.</p>
<p>Walk with a friend. You are safer when you are with someone else. </p>
<p>As always, feel free to contact me (<a href=“mailto:eks0@lehigh.edu”>eks0@lehigh.edu</a>) with any questions,
concerns and comments about campus safety issues. </p>
<p>Chief Ed Shupp
Lehigh University Police Department "</p>
<p>Unfortunately, crime seems to be on the rise just beyond the campus borders. This is a definite problem that has gone from just a few incidents a year to an alarming number. I’m sure that the number of incidents is still lower than at universities in larger cities. Still, students need to be alert to potentially vulnerable situations.</p>
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<p>Who would fake their own robbery? That just seems dumb to me.</p>
<p>The graduate student lost over $4000 at the Sands Casino and wanted to account for it, I guess.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-bethlehem-lehigh-false-20110315,0,3180295.story[/url]”>http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-bethlehem-lehigh-false-20110315,0,3180295.story</a></p>