<p>From the University's onliine security alert:</p>
<p>University</a> of Chicago News Office | Campus Crime Update</p>
<p>"At 12:49 a.m., Friday, November 23, on Kimbark Avenue near 57th Street, two men were walking when two other men came from behind, displayed handguns, demanded and took the victims’ valuables, and fled. Police are investigating."</p>
<p>This occurred yesterday during Thanksgiving break. Were the victims students???</p>
<p>Not as concerned about this one, because it's more of a routine happening and nobody got hurt. Muggings DO happen.</p>
<p>I've been told that the guns are usually toy guns-- if the criminal gets caught, he is in a lot more trouble for using an actual gun, plus the ultimate intent is not to hurt you-- it's to take your wallet and your valuables.</p>
<p>except that a student got killed this time</p>
<p>for the first time in 30 years, yes. but we also don't know anything about that, and they didn't even take his wallet. it's really not that rare for people to get mugged in hyde park.</p>
<p>yeah, those people were students. i dont think you should get the idea that muggings are commonplace, but it happens and campus doesn't usually make a big deal about it. however, the recent shooting was rare and a big deal.</p>
<p>New e-mail (for the curious):</p>
<p>
[quote]
<br>
To: University Community
From: President Robert J. Zimmer
Subject: Update on Campus Safety</p>
<p>As we return from the Thanksgiving break, I wanted to let you know about actions we are taking to strengthen campus safety. </p>
<p>Last week I wrote to tell you that police patrols had been permanently and significantly increased. Beginning today, we have established a police substation at 61st and Drexel. This substation will be staffed 24 hours a day and will provide a visible police presence at that location until May when the University of Chicago Police Department is scheduled to locate its headquarters in the new building being constructed there. A visible police substation will remain at the current police headquarters at 56th and Ellis after the new headquarters are opened in May.</p>
<p>Two vans have been added to the SafeRide program. The hours for the SafeRide program have been expanded to begin at 10 p.m., and based on community feedback we are working on beginning the van service at dusk. Phone lines have been added to ensure that callers will be able to reach a dispatcher with their pickup request. The scale and policies concerning this program, as well as other transportation programs, are under review to ensure they are meeting the campus safety needs.</p>
<p>In addition to these immediate measures, we will undertake a sustained and comprehensive effort to improve campus safety. I am appointing a Working Group on Safety and Security composed of faculty, staff, students and community representatives to work intensively on a range of safety improvements. The group will be co-chaired by Kim Goff-Crews, Vice President and Dean of Students in the University, and Rick Rosengarten, Dean of the Divinity School and current Chair of the Committee on Crime Prevention and Security on Campus and in the Neighborhood. The group will review our current security efforts including policing, transportation, lighting, and dissemination of information; solicit ideas for improving campus safety; and make recommendations about additional improvements we should undertake. We have received suggestions from many of you during the past week, and this Working Group will provide a vehicle for systematically taking them into account, as well as soliciting further input.</p>
<p>To help this group assess our current safety program, we are in the process of engaging an external security firm to conduct a thorough review of our security measures and recommend any changes that might increase our effectiveness.</p>
<p>We also are working in partnership with City of Chicago officials, local elected officials, community leaders and residents to address the level of crime on the mid-South Side. We have extensive programs with our South Side community involving education, housing, jobs, and other aspects inherent to a community that fosters a safe and secure environment. We will continue this work. UCPD Chief Rudy Nimocks has been working closely with Chicago Police Superintendent Dana Starks, and the Chicago Police Department also has increased its patrols in the neighborhoods near campus. In addition, I will be meeting with Mayor Richard M. Daley to ask for his support in finding ways to further reduce crime in our community. </p>
<p>I have asked Sonya Malunda, Assistant Vice President and Director of Community Affairs, to play a coordinating role for all of our emerging efforts concerning safety.</p>
<p>Students who would like to learn more about neighborhood safety are encouraged to attend one of two Security Forums sponsored by Student Government in partnership with the University of Chicago Police. Students living in off-campus housing are invited to attend the forum tonight (November 26) at 5 p.m. at the GSB Harper Center, Room 010. Students living in University Housing are invited to attend the forum on Wednesday, November 28, at 5 p.m. in the Reynolds Club McCormick Tribune Lounge. For more information about these programs, visit Student</a> Government. </p>
<p>Data about crimes on and around campus and within our neighborhood are available at Common</a> Sense and chicagocrime.org:</a> Chicago crime database. </p>
<p>The safety of our campus environment is a top priority. We thank those of you who have submitted ideas for safety improvements and welcome additional suggestions and feedback as this work progresses. We will continue to post information about our safety efforts to our web page at University</a> of Chicago News Office | Campus message from President Zimmer about shooting on S. Ellis.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Muggings may be pretty routine in Hyde Park, but the fact that a pair of male students walking together was targeted on one of the nicest blocks on campus...that's more troubling to me than the more typical mugging of a lone student at 53rd and Cottage Grove.</p>
<p>yeah, its odd that two male students were targeted on such a populated street. i wouldn't be as suprised if the victims had been female. it is unnerving.</p>
<p>57th is not terribly well populated that late at night, I've walked back to Max from 57th and Stony Island along 57th at around 11 or later one time and I don't remember seeing anyone else on the street all the way back to the dorm.</p>
<p>I agree that this mugging is far from usual. They were confronted with real guns--not toys--and the guns were actually pushed against their bodies when their money and valuables were demanded. I know one of the guys it happened to.</p>
<p>well they make "toy" guns to look like real ones, especially bb guns. not saying they weren't real, just that i don't find this news THAT surprising. i remember this summer reading the police alerts and someone was stuck up at 57th and university with a "real gun" and apparently the victim turned around and punched the mugger, who then ran away without shooting or taking anything. the point is that muggings happen and the mugger really has nothing to gain by shooting his victim, but a gun does wonders for intimidation.</p>
<p>"the victim turned around and punched the mugger, who then ran away without shooting or taking anything."</p>
<p>Because you can never say it too often: Unless you're Jackie Chan, don't do this. It doesn't matter that the mugger has "nothing to gain by shooting his victim." The typical mugger is young and panicky, and also possibly drunk or high. You should not bet your life that he will weigh his options rationally in a split-second, adrenaline-fueled situation.</p>
<p>It's smart to fight back if an armed assailant is trying to get you into a vehicle. Otherwise, cooperate and do your best not to scare him.</p>
<p>Exactly, Hannah.</p>
<p>From the campus safety alert...
Posted Nov. 27, 2007 at 9:15 a.m.</p>
<p>According to a statement Wednesday from the Chicago Police Department, a 16-year old has been charged with murder in connection with the November 19 death of graduate student Amadou Cisse. He was also charged with attempted armed robbery in connection with Cisse’s death as well as armed robbery in connection with an incident earlier that day in which two women were robbed at 924 E. 57th St. by an individual who said he had a weapon.</p>
<p>I hope they have the right person - but what a sad was of life - both for (almost) Dr. Cisse and the 16 year old.</p>
<p>i would certainly never attempt to fight back, im just saying that often times the mugger isnt interested in fighting you. its not too surprising that a 16 year old killed amadou because he probably isnt experienced and made a huge mistake and knew it right away.</p>
<p>The murder at Chicago was tragic, but people should not over react. This was the first murder in over thirty years at the University affecting a student.The murderer came from over five miles away in a car. This could have happened anywhere. Unfortunately this is the society we live in. I live next to the Yale campus which has had several murders over the years. Students have to use common sense and not walk alone in the early dawn or late at night. Otherwise you are pretty safe. Chicago will probably be one of the safest universities in the country to be at now.</p>