<p>Is UC Campus area really dangerous?
I spoke to a friend, who lives in Chicago area, that
I might go to Uchicago and that I will
be living in the aprtment close to the campus,
then he, sort of, freaked out and warned me
that it's kinda dangerous there.</p>
<p>Well the exact location would be anywhere
from Hyde Park area and 57~52th.
Anyone agrees or disagrees?</p>
<p>I just want to know if it is safe enough that I can
walk to campus and groceries etc</p>
<p>It's safe as long as your use common sense. You shouldn't walk alone at night, but you shouldn't do that anywhere, really.</p>
<p>Are you an in-coming first year? Why aren't you living in housing?</p>
<p>Do you know what street exactly?</p>
<p>A LOT of students, grad students, and professors live in HP, and most live north and east of campus. Most students walk, take the bus, or bike between areas, and it's not enough of a problem for them to deter them from living off campus.</p>
<p>We are in a city, so I think it's dumb to go off jogging alone at 3 am with your headphones on, but I know enough students who do it regularly and... I guess it's a good sign-- if they ran into problems, they wouldn't keep doing it.</p>
<p>More students talking about what they do to be and feel safe:</p>
<p>Hyde Park is actually a nicer neighborhood than most give it credit for, I'm more afraid of being hit by a grad student on a bike than any sort of crime. Just remember to keep your apt. locked, or somebody might break in and steal your stuff. </p>
<p>It would be a lie to say that it's perfectly safe, and that it's potentially dangerous to live here, but that's the tradeoff for living in a city. We have the same safety issues and concerns that people in every metropolitan area in the world have, it's nothing unique to Chicago. As has been said, the U. recognizes this and has set up one of the largest police forces on any college campus, regular patrols, safety phones, etc. I feel very safe in Hyde Park.</p>
<p>It is unfortunate that safety reputations change slowly. While the area southeast of the campus is still one of the toughest in Chicago, it is well buffered by Washington Park and Cottage Grove Avenue. North of Hyde Park/Kenwood, the area is undergoing one of the more remarkable urban rebirths I've ever seen. Chicago has torn down the projects that anchored much of the crime and problems in the area, and is building mixed income townhouse developments in their place. This is in addition to a huge amount of privately financed renovation and infill development. You would need to see it to believe it. The contrast from 20 years ago (heck, even 10 years ago) is remarkable. </p>
<p>So, is Hyde Park an urban environment? You betcha. Do muggings happen? Of course. Breaks ins? yup. Frequently? No. In fact, significant crime is rare enough that it gets a great deal of press. In the good old days when I was there, crime was so much more commonplace that it was not even reported frequently.</p>
<p>One of the unusual aspects about community rebirth is that the rebirth often leads to a rise in reported crime. This has happened north of Hyde Park/Kenwood. Why? as a long time resident told me, because there is now stuff to steal. And the new residents will call police and expect something to be done. Just remember this crime stuff is complicated.</p>
<p>"Safe" is a relative concept when it comes to this discussion. What some find perfectly safe others may find unacceptable.</p>
<p>The below link will take you to crime reports by the UC police. </p>
<p>i have a friend who's uncle lives on the south side and he said that uchicago kids really stand out and no one really picks on them because it's too easy.</p>
<p>What a fantastic source.. "my friends uncle"</p>
<p>that makes no sense at all, weak college kids who go to a private U would be an amazing target to gain some quick profit (as money/ cell phones are the main reason people mug you, that and showing off to friends).</p>
<p>Exactly, which is why UC students have their own private police force. Crackheads don't live by some honor code that doesn't let them stick up feeble nerds. That's why the school offers self-defense classes (and Walgreens sells pepper spray!)</p>
<p>Geesh, this safety debate goes on every few months. Look, if you want safety, go to a military academy. They have solid fences, perimeter patrols and guard shacks at all entrances. Or,maybe find a small college in a small town in a state that has good gun control...</p>
<p>Outside of them, you're gonna need to take your chances. All urban universities, whether they are Chicago, Penn, Harvard, Berkeley, NYU or Columbia, have similar sets of problems.</p>
<p>But even the surburban and rural ones have problems, too, just less obvious, like theft from dorms, student to student assault (alcohol enabled?) and such.</p>
<p>So, as others have said, get real and learn to read your environment. And stop searching for an answer that does not exist. If you are concerned about safety, nothing anyone says on these boards will make you think otherwise. But go visit if you can and draw your own conclusions. </p>
<p>Please do remember too that safety stats for higher ed are very tough to come by and even tougher to compare because of inconsistent recording and such. For example, most of the things recorded by the UofC police take place off campus, sometimes more than a mile away.</p>
<p>you go to uchicago to be a well-rounded person. if you go four years without some crazy hobo trying to sell you his poetry or walking down a sketchy alley then youre gonna be a weak nerd your whole life. like calvin's dad says: it builds character.</p>
<p>My child is just finishing her second year at Chicago. She has always lived off-campus -- first in a dorm not in the main campus area, and then in an apartment about a mile from the main quad. She is (note the pronoun) a woman. She is also a night-owl, often walking to and from things in the wee hours of the morning (she has done both 4-6am and 2-4am radio shows, for instance). Usually unaccompanied. She also travels frequently, on public transportation, to the Loop, Belmont, and Wicker Park. She has not had any problems at all. </p>
<p>(Which isn't to say, of course, that she isn't cautious and watchful. She is.)</p>
<p>Get the facts on campus safety. Go to <a href="http://ope.edu.gov/security/%5B/url%5D">http://ope.edu.gov/security/</a> for data on campus crime. You will be surprised when you compare the University of Chicago to other so-called "safe" schools. Make an informed decision about one of the best universities in the world, based on facts, not rumors and outdated history.</p>