<p>Sam:</p>
<p>Yep. That's what I was thinking, too. I just didn't want to say it.</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>What's with the attack? "Cowardly young man" "racism". On what basis can you make those comments? There was nothing "subconsious" about this young man's feelings, he was assaulted as were some of his friends. Why is that so hard to believe? Did I even say the race of the attackers? I don't even know, and he didn't even say, because it was not relevant.</p>
<p>It's evident that not all information is welcome here. If someone had the information that was presented to me, I would want to know about it and add to all the other information I gathered in order to make an informed judgement. It seems to me that is the central purpose of this discussion board.</p>
<p>I think the real cowards are those that hurl names in order to stunt unwanted information.</p>
<p>It seems my attempt to impart information is unwanted to some. It seems to falll under the category "if it's bad, it must not be true". </p>
<p>"thou dost protest too much"</p>
<p>
[quote]
There was nothing "subconsious" about this young man's feelings, he was assaulted as were some of his friends.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Nice change of story. You first said:</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't have one friend who has not be either mugged or chased.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There was no mention of the young man, himself, being assaulted. Why the change of story? And how will your story change, next time?</p>
<p>"I don't have one friend who has not be either mugged or chased." </p>
<p>Maybe this child SHOULD get the hell out of the University. I don't know if I want to be around someone like that.</p>
<p>Well...I did not intend for this thread to launch such a heated argument, but thanks for the input anyways. I will take all of your comments into consideration.</p>
<p>SBDad,</p>
<p>Calm down. I wasn't specificly referring to your friend's child. It was just a general comment about some people who made comments about neighborhoods. What I said may or may not apply to some of those who made comments about the neighborhoods surrounding UChicago.</p>
<p>Before SBDad starts scaring off prospective students, I want to make this clear: SBDad hasn't lived in Chicago all his life and can't make an accurate claim.</p>
<p>As such, I want to reiterate that the area around U of C is not terrible. The stories about gangs, rapes, etc. are all due to grungy appearances of certain areas. This is simply a misconception.</p>
<p>Anyways, I love the campus. It's beautiful. People should totally come and visit =D</p>
<p>Ok, uncle.</p>
<p>Thank you for explaining to me that this young man, who is a 4th year, was lying to me and my family. I now understand that his fantatsies are bourne of cowardice and racism. I didn't know that you knew him so much better than we did and that, categorically, these things absolutely do not happen at UChicago. I feel so much better now.</p>
<p>Someone should tell UChicago that they can take down all those blue emergency phones and reallocate a majority of the money spent on private security to more worthy pursuits. </p>
<p>Sarcasm aside, let me reiterate that I am not trying to scare anyone off. Passing along what seems to me to be relevant information is what the forum is all about. I am sorry that I did not state that he was also attacked, on campus last spring. He was pushed down and his backpack was stolen.</p>
<p>I think you need to ask yourself, what motivation does this young man, or I for that matter, have in passing along bogus information? My son is already admitted and the young man in question will be a graduate in June moving on to a great IT job on the east coast. What motiviation do UChicago supporters have for attempting to discredit this information?</p>
<p>Today will be my 2nd visit to the university, so I'll come back and comment on this tomorrow. But I walked around Hyde Park for almost 2 hours the last time I was there and never once felt uneasy. If you walk up to the bus stop, there's a lot of urban black culture - weave shops, young men dressed in Fubu, liquor stores, etc - but it wasn't "unsafe", and I wouldn't even say that young black men make up the majority of the people walking around the area (you see a lot of white, dorky looking students). If black people make you nervous, don't come here. </p>
<p>Hyde Park is not the Gold Coast or N. Halsted or the Mag mile, but I would never call it "dangerous" either. A good piece of evidence for this is that something like 70% of the faculty live in Hyde Park.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I don't have one friend who has not be either mugged or chased."
[/quote]
This is the part of the young man's testimony that makes readers skeptical. Either this person has very few friends, or it's a wild exaggeration. It contradicts what we hear from our own friends and family members at the UoC.</p>
<p>greenblue, that's understandable. It was a direct quote from the young man and probably does stretch credulity, but I certainly didn't call him on it. Take it as you will.</p>
<p>I don't post here thinking that I'm going to be accused of providing false information and will have to defend myself - maybe naively. I just post what I know or have been told as addition to the overall knowledge base of the forum. If others have different opinions, I would certainly expect that they would communicate their experiences. </p>
<p>I've been mulling whether I should email him and have him post here directly. However, some of the accusations have been so harsh that I'm little reluctant to do so. At any rate, I wouldn't do so until the end of the term because I'm sure he's very busy.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I just post what I know or have been told as addition to the overall knowledge base of the forum.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What you did was not to “add to the knowledge base” but to post a judgment based on purely anecdotal evidence. Here’s what you said:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Let's be honest, this is not a safe area (why do you think they have one of the largest private police forces in the country and blue emergency phones everywhere?).
[/quote]
</p>
<p>"This is not a safe area" is a judgment. It’s opinion, not information.</p>
<p>You formed this opinion based on one piece of anecdotal evidence from one source. You leap to the judgment that the U of Chicago is not a safe area, and you imply that those who disagree with you are dishonest ("let's be honest"). And you didn’t expect to have someone push back on that? </p>
<p>Call boxes? My campus and the surrounding student living areas are replete with them and serious crime here is minimal. Once again, you leap to judgment based on very little evidence. As for the police, as I’ve said, the areas to the west, south, and north (at some distance) are high crime areas. The UC police force patrols both the campus and the edges of these areas to keep crime down. That’s the point. That’s why the campus and the area to the east and immediate north are roughly as safe as any other urban neighborhood.</p>
<p>As for your credibility, first we get this statement:</p>
<p>
[quote]
"I don't have one friend who has not be either mugged or chased."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>How many friends can this one man have??? One? Two? As I’ve posted, my son at the UC has had no such experiences and neither have any of his friends, unless getting hit by a snowball counts. This statement is not even remotely credible.</p>
<p>We then get this bizarre statement:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Certainly my information is anecdotal from one student, but I find it more credible that university crime statistics.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>So, the people at the UofC are liars. That’s the implication. But one anecdote trumps them because, well, they’re liars right? I mean, EVERY kid at the UofC must be terrified out of their wits like the young man you quote, and the UofC is just covering it up? </p>
<p>You then go on to revise your previous statement. Yes, this young man doesn’t just know people who were attacked. He was attacked, himself. What will it be next? </p>
<p>So, what we have is a guy who has called everyone who disagrees “dishonest,” and the staff at the University of Chicago “liars,” all based on a single anecdote from a young man who simply must be exaggerating. And this guy is surprised when people attack back?????</p>
<p>As for having the young man post, why don’t you just sign in with a different posting name? That would work just as well, don’t you think?</p>
<p>I certainly resspect your opinion that you feel that the campus is safe. </p>
<p>Based on what I know, it is not what I would classify as safe.</p>
<p>Of course, the term safe is a relative term.</p>
<p>I guess I would leave it at that rather than antigonize you any more.</p>
<p>Heck, you've already called me "dishonest" and the staff at the University of Chicago "liars." It would be tough to be more antagonistic. Have at it.</p>
<p>I have tried my best to be respectful and if I have not been, I apologize.</p>
<p>When something is in quotes, I usually think it is a verbatim citing.</p>
<p>Can you show me where I said "you are dishonest" or UC are "liars"?</p>
<p>If I did, it was not my intention. Data and experiences can be interpreted many ways, I think that is commonly accepted. That does not mean that the other party is a "liar", and I don't mean imply so. Misguided or self-interested maybe, but not a liar.</p>
<p>When you refute others by saying "let's be honest," you are saying they are dishonest.</p>
<p>When you say you don't trust UofC personnel to present honest information, you are saying they are liars.</p>
<p>I don't agree that every time you say, "let's be honest", that you are saying the other person is dishonest. It's a colloquial phrase. </p>
<p>And, again, I never said UC personnel were liars. I'm saying I don't trust the data because, in my opinion, it is in their best interest to collect and interpret the data in their favor. I think Steven Levitt would agree that there is many ways to look at data.</p>
<p>So why do you put those words in quote? You are holding me to a very strict and literal standard of what I say, so why don't you hold yourself to that same standard?</p>
<p>For those who wish to read actual crime reports from UC Police, you may go to the following link:</p>
<p>You should click on thread, and then "safey awareness alert".</p>
<p>This listhost gives a brief description of crimes which are posted by UC police.</p>
<p>No value judgement nor analysis on my part, just information.</p>
<p>23 rapes on campus at UVA?! That is hard to believe. If that is true there should be some serious alcohol awareness programs being implemented.</p>
<p><a href="http://commonsense.uchicago.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://commonsense.uchicago.edu/</a></p>
<p>That's the university's safety information site. If you stay in popular areas within the University's influence, travel primarily in the daytime, or travel in groups, you will not feel afraid. Keeping a head on your shoulders will not prevent you from enjoying Chicago.</p>
<p>Also take a good look at the services the UCPD offers, including a late-night van service (aka "the drunk van") and an umbrella escort service. These services are FREE, they're FOR YOU, and they're available all throughout the neighborhood, so if you ever find yourself alone or in a sketchy situation you shouldn't be afraid to call. </p>
<p>I've only heard about a blue light being pushed twice-- in one instance, the cops came within 45 seconds, and the other was a medical emergency, in which they both came and spoke through the telephone to the person who called for help, giving her advice.</p>