Just want to make other parents aware that the “dog and pony show” put on for campus tours and orientation regarding student safety on Temple’s campus is just that… a dog and pony show. Yes, they do try but I would encourage you to follow @TempleUniv on Twitter and become well aware of the TU Alerts and the type of crime that is taking place before finalizing any decisions for your child to attend school there. Bottom line, it’s a great school but they need to do more when it comes to local crime & student safety.
Wow. Fearmonger much? Like ANY city campus, common sense should prevail always. For starters, don’t walk around city streets drunk at 3am. Walk in groups, be aware of ypur surroundings, put the phone away. What do you think Temple should do more of concerning “local ctime” exactly? Provide free campus to off campus door to door transpirtstion at night? Oh wait, they do this. Walking escorts on demand? Oh wait, they do this. Stadium lighting at night on and around campus? Yep have that too. Yes, follow Temple on Twitter. The majority of the infrequent alerts do not involve students, but merely tell them to avoid an off campus area where a police investigation is occurring. The majority of the posts are all the great things going on at Temple. Glad you got to grind your ax with your very vague dramatic post.
Thank you for your feedback. Yes, it is true, some college campuses are safer than others.
Since my initial post was regarded as “vague and ax grinding”, I’ll provide a few examples below. Bottom line, ask LOTS of questions about crime in the area. Even walking with a buddy or in a group prior to midnight and sober doesn’t necessarily reduce your chances of being a crime victim. I’ll reiterate what I wrote above- it’s a great school but parents should understand exactly what to expect when their student lives there.
- Oct 2016 there was a "wilding" were social media was used to designate a meeting spot for those up to no good. They went out in groups of 10-15 to prey upon anyone out on the streets. A young lady was coming out of the campus subway stop from a football game (10p or so) with a large group of friends. The ".wilding" group managed to get her separated from her friends, kicked, beat, and I believe pulled her hair out. She was hospitalized.
This year...... - March 11 - shooting on W. Oxford
- April 19th- armed robbery on Cecil B. Moore, Dunkin Donuts
- In May a student was murdered in his own apartment. Shot 3x, made his own 911 call but died before they arrived. I believe this case remains unsolved.
- May 9th drive by shooting on Diamond. 2 dead (not students but the street has off-campus housing where students live)
- May 9th - shooting at the Health Sciences Campus
- May 22nd- armed robbery near Health Sciences Campus
- June 24th- armed robbery on Cecil B Moore Summer 2018- drug addicts were permitted to stay in the park on Cecil
- Aug 7th- shooting near Health Sciences Campus
- Aug 20th shooting near Health Sciences Campus
- Aug 28th armed robbery W. Girard
- Sep 11th armed robbery, 2000 Broad
- Sep 13th armed robbery on W Diamond
- Sep 16th shooting on 18th St.
- Sep 24th armed robbery 16th St.
- Sep 28th armed robbery at Broad & Girard
I could go on but I’m sure the above provides enough examples so that my advice becomes less “vague”.
I have no “ax to grind” and will say it again, Temple is a great university but I do believe that having all the information before making a decision is important.
Thanks for the Philadrlphia crime report. Lol. The majority of the listed items above did not involve students. None of the Health Science campus ones. Just want to clarify that because people might be misled to think that’s close to Temple’s main campus which it is not. Not sure what “drug addicts were permitted to stay in the park on Cecil” means. In your OP you stated Temple should do more when it comes to “local crime”.
What else do you think they should do that they don’t already? I really want to know. Seems from your posts you have had concerns about LaSalle too. Probably should have avoided the big city. Good luck!
I have a good friend whose son had his motorcycle stolen while a student at Temple. He often spoke of how careful he had to be while living there. He chose the school based on scholarship opportunities not for the safety of the area.
I went to Temple and felt very safe all 4 years. My daughter did a summer program and lived on campus she also felt very safe. She will be attending fall 2019
I am concerned about safety because my dd is involved in circus arts and would be leaving campus regularly to attend classes at the circus school. Would that be dangerous for her? I don’t know if she can uber or take public transportation. I wouldn’t want her to drive alone.
Everyone leaves campus to do things in the city. It’s ok. Really it is. Its unreasonable for parents to think their kids won’t leave campus. Why are you not sure if she can Uber or take public transportation? It is very costly to have a car on campus, fyi (since you mention driving) where is the circus School
I am a native Philadelphian who still lives and works in the area. My sense is that Temple is typical of a very urban university. Like most urban universities in the United States, it is marginally safe. People living in the area of Temple (or Penn, or other Philly colleges) need to be street savvy. There needs to be tolerance for a certain amount of crime. For example, I had a house in another area of Philly. One workman left his electric saw outside my house for about 15 minutes. When he went to retrieve it, it was gone. Also, while we were doing renovations prior to move-in, another workman left the door unlocked. Multiple things were stolen from inside, and there were signs that someone may have squatted there a few nights. These kinds of things happen. I tell my children when walking in the city after dark you stay alert. No headphones, no staring at your phone while walking down the street. Notice who is around you. Notice if someone gets too close to you, especially if you are alone. I will walk in the middle of the street, rather than pass open alleyways on the sidewalk with no one else around.
In Philadelphia, there also has to be tolerance for trash on the streets, filth and dripping water on the subways, and a general lack of courtesy in public spaces. If you want to be safe, you learn to never confront anyone, no matter how rude.
For people not used to this kind of vigilance, I think urban living can be a shock. On the other hand, it seems we are all at risk of violent death, whether it be going to a concert, a synagogue, a school or movie theatre. Nowhere is entirely safe.
My D is a junior attending Temple. She has had no issues with safety, but is always on the alert when out and about, as recommended by @psycholing .
She is with friends much of the time, and uses the subway and lyft/uber to get around. TU security patrol campus regularly, including student apartments several blocks beyond campus. There are also security bike escorts available to accompany students if they request.
The area around TU is "gritty ", but improving, with much redevelopment going on. We visit her once a month or so (we live an hour way) and have not had any issues ourselves either.
Currently a student at Temple. I know the student who was robbed at gunpoint on West Oxford right by the Fresh Grocer. I had a slushie thrown at me in the middle of the day at the Tropical Smoothie on Broad St. My suitemate was followed back to her dorm at 7:00 pm on a weekday night. The school is not in a good area. Off-campus parties are a pain in the ass to go to as they’re in sketchy areas. The last thing I want to do at 1:00 AM in the morning is walk through a not-so-safe area while I’m inebriated. I’m considering transferring just because of the safety issue.
I did a crime thread a couple of weeks ago…
Temple was around the 40th most dangerous for a school with 30k students… Only 2.5 crime incidents per 1k students.
Schools do not always accurately report crime.
I grew up in Philly and went to Temple a long time ago. My nephew is there now. My advice to students would be always be aware of your surroundings. Don’t let your “surburban” guilt get you in trouble - this means follow your gut and don’t be afraid to offend someone by avoiding and/or ignoring him or her.
I think students should be aware that they may have to deal with situations unfamiliar to them - like the examples above of a thrown smoothie or being verbally harassed.
Obviously, the vast majority of students have a great experience, but there have been some very troubling incidents every year.