<p>BTW , NYC is one of the most crime-free areas for a college campus . I would never worry about a kid there ( unless he takes the wrong subway like I did late at night ) . It's the cities like Philly ( where Temple is located ) and Providence and South campus of Buffalo where they have frequent hold-ups .</p>
<p>Friend's son was just mugged at NYU walking back to dorm (I'm not sure from where). He wasn't hurt, just pushed around and wallet taken. It shook him up though and he said he would have to be more aware of his surroundings--this is from a kid who grew up in NYC.</p>
<p>Cangel, I think the situation you recounted is an oddity. Have not come across anything like that in my 35 years with universities, and having lived in a number of student ghettos, some of which are considered pretty dangerous. There have been a number of incidents that occur to anyone, including students, bad incidents, but I don't know of anyone holed up afraid to sleep in his dorm. </p>
<p>I remember not to long ago, Middlebury had a problem with someone scaring students in the dorm. They though they caught the one doing it, but there were big issues with the accuracy of their detective work. Seeing that Middlebury is a top LAC in a very safe locale, I would say such unusual problems occur sporadically anywhere. Dartmouth had a murder of two of its professor. Hopkins has had a spate of problems, though that is an urban school where such crime does occur more often. When I was young, there was the horrible murder at Florida State where some psychopath snuk into a girls' dorm or sorority and killed a number of coeds. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, I have yet to see a dorm that someone who is motivated to invade, be secure. There are reasonable precautions that you expect university housing to have, but it is a dorm, not a prison, and for each security measure you install to keep people, out, it is a hassle for those who live there. Many of the petty problems that occur in the residences,are attributable to the students themselves, just as much of the shoplifting in a store is inhouse, and police investigate family and close friend very carefully when a crime occurs. If someone who is psychotic is living in the dorm, with harmful tendencies, it can be a dangerous situation, and it can happen. Most of the issues are from students and former students who know their way around the place, and can fit in. As one of the posters noted, a total stranger tends to stand out.<br>
I will say, that if my kid, or any kid I know, is in such fear to live in a place, it is not worth getting that education at this time. Something is seriously wrong here. Whether it is in the kid's head, or if he is involved in a drug deal gone wrong, or on a hit list, the appropriate authorities who deal in cases of the sort need to be told. I would go nuts if my kid were in such danger or thought he was, and would get him out of Dodge ASAP.</p>
<p>I feel safer in my urban dorm than I do at my small town house. To get into the dorm we need to swipe our cards, show our picture IDs to the person at the front desk (24 hours / day), and swipe again to get into the main building. The people at the desk also get to know or at least recognize the students in that building. Guests, including students who live in other dorms, must be signed in with the front desk by someone living in that dorm. </p>
<p>Dangerous or potentially dangerous students should be handled by the school immediately and should not be kept in dorm living.</p>
<p>Cpt - again, I don't want to get into too many details, I think there are some gaps in the story.
My concern in bringing this up was the outward safety of this mid-sized, non-urban school. My kid won't be eligible for most of the schools popular on this forum, and wants to attend a larger university. Up until now, my only dealbreaker requirement was that he have to live on campus as a freshman (many of the schools around here don't have enough housing for freshmen, and many/most live off-campus) - now I'm rethinking even that. I don't expect a regional university to offer the services of an Ivy League or AWS, but I would hope that they had floor meetings and responsible RAs.</p>
<p>I think my question has been answered - this is an unusual incident, even for a mid-sized, under funded state school.</p>
<p>Cangel, I really think the kid you posted about was an abberration. I have never heard of any other kid with similar issues. To reassure yourself, I'd definitely speak with the U & find out more about how kids at the school are/are not secure & other safety-related issues.</p>
<p>Cangel, I agree with your conclusion. Most of the incidents that occurred while I was in college, and at my sons' colleges were off campus housing events. There seems to be more security in dorms, because strangers are immediately noticed, and usually approached in dorms if not accompanied by a resident. With apårtments and group homes, it 's a different story. I can tell you that I want a school for my next college bound son, that has 4 year dorms available. This living off campus business was a headache for us. Not that any catatrophe occurred, but pain in the neck things that I really don't want to deal with did.</p>
<p>Thanks for these thoughts--will add them to the conversation as we help guide our S in his choice of housing for next year (USC now guarantees housing for freshmen & sophomores). I enjoyed living on campus my 1st 2 years of college & off campus thereafter. In grad school, enjoyed living in grad dorm 1st year & then off campus in apartment for next 2 years. Suspect S will similarly want to spread his wings & consider options off campus, but who knows?</p>
<p>............other than I will say this occurred at much lower tier college than typical of CC............ More common in lower tier schools?................</p>
<p>I am a bit insulted by these comments by the OP - almost sounds as tho other than a top tier schools are fair game for all the wrongs of society - crime happens everywhere - tier of school makes no difference - the posh and wealthy schools are just as big a target as the ghetto schools students.</p>
<p>If what the OP posted is true - then this student has some problems and needs to get some help to make himself feel safer where ever he is.</p>
<p>Actually, I'd suspect there might be more property crime in the "higher tier" schools, as the there might be more obviously expensive articles that are more easily "lifted." Theft is often a crime of opportunity--when valuables are left lying around unattended it they present a very tempting target. Sometimes folks who have led a more "sheltered life" are less careful of their surroundings and possessions because they haven't previously had to think of such things.
Agree that the situation OP wrote about definitely needs to have prompt attention for the student's mental & physical safety. Living with that level of fear is unhealthy/dangerous, whether the threats are actual, imagined or some combo.</p>
<p>As a commuter, I don't deal with this problem but I do take my precautions on campus. Both my previous car and the one I drive now have security systems, and I make sure my doors are locked and my security system activated before I go to class.</p>
<p>I use my iPod in my car but usually hide it under a baseball cap on my passenger seat when I'm going to class. The hat also hides other stuff (like rolled coins that I may be taking to the bank after class). It looks very unsuspecting since a lot of people leave hats thrown all over their cars.</p>
<p>At the gym I use a combination lock so nobody takes my clothes/wallet/watch/etc. My iPod is on me at all times there.</p>
<p>Even in class I play it safe. I'll leave a pencil or a few sheets of paper laying around, but stuff like calculators usually go with me to the drinking fountain.</p>
<p>At home I get new locks every six years. I also change my garage door code from time to time.</p>
<p>Don't forget about online security as well--I change my e-mail passwords every few months.</p>
<p>Actually, I can relate to OP's tale. I had a less than stellar roommate my first semester, in honors dorm. I had clothes, typewriter, checks stolen. She'd sneak men into the room. I never felt safe but I couldn't lock her out. I had RA & police involved, but it was the roommate who finally left (pregnant). If my S was having these problems, I'd be proactive. Fortunately, his school has a stict honor code & I haven't heard of such losses.
I don't think it matters what school one attends. Theft and bad roommates seem timeless. Emotional breakdowns occur. Hopefully, a student can turn to an RA for guidance, and to his parents for additional support.</p>
<p>I go to a non-top tier school, in a city not too far from a rougher area, and I've never felt unsafe in the dorms or on campus. We've had incidents, but to be honest, most kids ask for it because they put themselves in situations where they can get in trouble (leaving doors unlocked, for example, or deciding to walk through tunnels at night by themselves). There has been the occasional Pittsburgher who we don't want coming up to campus, but the police are very quick about handling the situation and asking them to leave.</p>
<p>JeepMom, sorry you feel insulted, but the concern about a lower tier school is that this particular school is a second tier state university that probably has a very low budget for RAs and residential life in general. The logical answer would be that there is an RA who is looking out for the freshman to some extent, at least having occasional floor meetings, but I'm wondering if that is the case at a school where the RA only gets free housing. It also has something to do with the goals of the students, because the parents in the case suspected that the prime motivation for some of the people living in or visiting the dorm, was theft from naive freshmen. Would that be more common at a school where not everyone who applies is admitted?
Theft occurs everywhere, obviously, and among people with no apparent reason to steal (Winona Ryder??).
I was very adamant about my son living in a dorm vs an apartment as a freshman, even knowing that this will limit his already limited choices, this made me rethink it a little.</p>
<p>...............concern about a lower tier school is that this particular school is a second tier state university that probably has a very low budget for RAs and residential life in general............... so I guess people who go to less than top tier schools are of a different element. NOT!!!</p>
<p>Well since you seem to not know the facts about this school and their ''low budget for RA's'' I think your comments reflect some real issues in regards to a less than top tier school having it all - which really makes me laugh. Just cuz the RA ''only gets free housing'' doesn't mean they aren't doing their jobs - and since you seem to KNOW so much about less than top tier schools and their housing issues .......... well it is still insulting - cuz crime happens everywhere - every tier will experience same/similar issues. </p>
<p>Please know that RA's do have limitations - no matter what school they are at - they cannot protect every student from every situation. Students have to take responsibility for where and how they live - no matter where that is. </p>
<p>...............prime motivation for some of the people living in or visiting the dorm, was theft from naive freshmen................ WOW - what an interesting and ILLogical way of thinking - way off base.</p>
<p>Why would living in a dorm - knowing that this will limit his already limited choices - what limited choices are you talking about.</p>
<p>Whoa, JeepMom - what side of the bed did you get up on? For your information, back in the day, I went to a lower tier state university - one I'm almost sure have never heard of and would put in a different state if you were asked. My FIL taught for 35 years at the same institution. So I do have some familiarity with the budgets and atmospheres of these schools. I received an excellent education at my 3rd rate school (although I don't think I could today), but there was only one RA for my 350 girl dorm, and certainly no budget for programs or handholding, the budget woes haven't changed, although the emphasis may have, and there may be more support for dorm life.
I'm glad I made you laugh, although I'm not sure why - not only do top schools have crime issues, they also have sleazy dorms - I wish you could see the hellhole I left my daughter in up at Dartmouth - and we're paying some astronomical amount for a space dirtier than what many peoples' pets live in!
Most flagship universities down here have nowhere close to enough dorm space for even their freshmen. The less selective schools have smaller populations and more commuters, so mostly have more dorm space, but the dorms vary widely in quality, and many people move out early - I thought for convenience, now I wonder about safety issues as well. SO far my son is adamant about not going to a small school, and I wanted him to go to a school with an active dorm life - not a bunch of 18 year olds living in trailers or the frat house because there is no other option.</p>
<p>I'm glad I amused you, but I think you are the one who is being "amusing" and ill-informed.</p>
<p>CANGEL - think again then!</p>
<p>looks like maybe your standards are very difficult to meet - and back in the day is very different from the present day. You clumped all the schools below the 1st tier in your original post into a less than honorable and less safe places to be - which I do still consider to be insulting. That hellhole at Dartmouth - I doubt very much it is as you describe above. - but the point of this thread was safety not cleanliness. GUess you will need to research those big state schools that do have lots of housing for their freshman - they do exist - and make sure the RA's are more honorable and helpful - have a room w/stipend - and a very active dorm life.</p>
<p>There are schools that have more dorm safety issues, campus safety issues than other. Location in a neighborhood that is unsafe is a prime determiner of some safety issues. Whether a dorm in a school that is not selective is safer than than the more selective, better known, better funded schools is not something I can answer, and I doubt any study has been done looking at that criteria. I think that the specific situation that the OP described is extremely rare, anywhere, and if this should occur, police and university authority intervention is needed asap. This is a crisis if it is not all in the mind of the student, and other students' safety could also be at stake. </p>
<p>I can tell you that those schools with a large "suitcase" and local population, with high attrition rates, are going to have more "different" traffic in their dorms. By "different", I mean that you are going to have more transient students. THose that may be there a semester, and then gone the next. When a school has a low retention rate, that inevitably occurs. Also with lots of local students, there tends to be more non university friends who visit the students and end up in the dorms. You also have part time and non traditional students. Whether this ups the danger rate, I do not know. But it does make it a bit more difficult to spot someone who does not belong on campus or in a dorm when you get this kind of traffic. In the smaller schools, where nearly everyone lives in a contained locale, it is very easy to spot an interloper. When you have a revolving door of residents and guests, it is easier for a stranger to slip into the picture unnoticed. Because much theft, much crime is committed by someone who is familiar with the location, the situation, the more people who have access to a living area, the more likely you are to get some sort of crime. But truly it just takes one bad apple in the dorm barrel for there to be trouble in any dorm or living situation. </p>
<p>Though Dartmouth is considered a very safe place, one of the more heinous crimes occurred to two profs there. Off campus, yes, but the perpetrators were people who were not part of the university community who became familiar with the home and set up of the murdered couple. Something like that is a freak occurance that can happen anywhere and is fortunately rare. The rarity of such events makes it difficult to make cluster points on where things like this are likely to occur as one even makes such a dramatic splash. Petty thievery occurs everywhere, and though I would tend to theorize that it is more likely where there is more traffic, just because statistically, you are increasing the likelihood of some nut strolling around, trying to talley up something like this is not an endeaavor worth doing, in my book. If you visit a dorm and don't like the looks of the residents or traffic, that is not the place for you, or your kid. But the best defense against problems is simply keeping that door locked which is a challenge, it seems for kids in a dorm. Apartments seem to be a bit better--the kids do tend to lock that front door, going,out, but they do seem to be careless locking it when they come in and are in the place. But apartments alos do not tend to have the active dorm life as the units tend to be more private and insulated. All of these things have to be balanced, and if it is a major concern of a parent, he should visit and examine the living quarters carefully.</p>
<p>In my personal experience, I never had that luxury. My kids both ended up in a "leftover" spot as far as housing went since they did not send off their commitments until May1. I was praying that the one would even get a room somewhere and not be housed in a hotel, or that I would have to go up there and find off campus digs.</p>
<p>A friend's son at a large public university (honor's dorm) had a homeless man knock on the door of his room and ask to use his cell phone. No one was sure how he even was able to get into the building. Guy just left without incident when was told there was no phone. Just glad nothing worse happened.</p>