When your murder rate is an order of magnitude higher than comparably-sized cities, “safe” becomes a relative term. Are you less likely to be attacked in one neighborhood than another? Sure. But the risk would be much lower if you were just in a better city.
“Baltimore is a city of inequities…”
This goes to the “why” of Baltimore being such a dangerous place. It’s an important question and needs to be answered. But folks sending their kids off to college aren’t necessarily interested in solving the long-entrenched problems of corrupt inner cities far away from their homes. They just want their kids to get an education. Safely,
The original question was, will Hopkins take a hit because of the Baltimore riots?
I think the answer is, yes, it will. I think that folks factor safety into overall “quality of life” when they pick a school, and unfortunately, Baltimore is less safe than most major cities in the US. By a lot. Counterbalancing that is Hopkins’ excellent security system. But no one wants to be a prisoner for four years, locked within a hermetically-sealed campus.
It honestly does not feel that way notjoe - not to me or any of my friends that went there and loved our time there. I’m glad your kids did not end up at Hopkins with that close minded attitude…How about you compare the student incident statistics for the different schools as they encompass off campus students as well - you’ll be surprised.
Crime can happen anywhere at anytime. Hopkins looks like heaven when compared to Harvard’s rape in Harvard yard for instance. What matters more to me are the statistics of crime happening to a college’s enrolled students.
Oh! Well, THAT makes it DIFFERENT! That’s how you FEEL!!
The violent crime rate is a multiple of what it is elsewhere, but you FEEL safe! Yeah! That’ll protect you! That safe FEELING. The murder rate is nearly TEN TIMES the national average, but you FEEL like it’s safe! LOL.
I’m glad not everyone will leave Baltimore because it’s a dangerous city.
But Hopkins will take a hit for the riots. Whether you agree with their assessment, or you think they’re out to lunch. Whether or not you think they’re over-reacting, people see the reality of a dangerous city, and some will stay away as a result.
As an engineer, I’m pretty well grounded in fact. But when you respond to my criticisms to your trite generalizations of a HERMETICALLY SEALED CAMPUS (I CAN CAPITALIZE FOR SENSATIONALISM TOO) with added flair, it’s a bit too much.
You’re guaranteeing Hopkins will take a hit for the riots, something that’s happened in a multitude of college towns this year already with minimal impacts. That’s about as logical as your responses thus far.
Should your son apply to McKinsey, tell him to check his attitude at the door (should he be fortunate enough to take after you…;)).
I’d say no. I was at the gym this afternoon and CNN was showing the Baltimore Symphony staging an imprompto concert out in the street. Fans were cheering the Orioles on from outside the ballpark gates. And many people were expressing a sincere desire for positive change in Baltimore. It is a city with a lot of pride. I don’t expect admissions to be impacted at all.
I think Hopkins is an excellent school and Baltimore is a diverse city. Baltimore is suffering and will continue to suffer as a result of the riots and the other recent problems that have bubbled to the surface. I do not know for sure but I remain optimistic that the school will remain strong and the city will recover and thrive. If people are not comfortable at JHU then they should find a place that will fit their needs better. No where is immune from crime or other social ills so we cannot be completely insulated from this.
USC has had actual cases of students murdered near its campus in recent months and years, yet I don’t see people hesitating about sending their kids there (or after the LA riots, the epicenter of which were close to the campus).
“Should your son apply to McKinsey, tell him to check his attitude…”
Personal attacks against me are disappointing but understandable. Bringing my son, who isn’t a party to this conversation, into it, and demeaning him,… well,…
…I’m sure that’s not representative of Johns Hopkins students, generally.
“Baltimore is a city of inequities. If one is not frequenting neighborhoods with those high crime statistics, it is safe. The question is how to lift up the neighborhoods that are not thriving, to offer opportunity for good jobs and education to all.”
Yeah something besides looting stores, and razing buildings…
Honestly I think the effect of the riots on JHU will be relatively short lived. Sure you’ll have a few potential students opt out because of the perceived security risk but nothing the school (and it’s reputation) can’t recover from.
Interesting tidbit with the murder rates, I had no idea Baltimore’s was so high. As with any large city, you just have to avoid the “bad spots”. (i.e. be situationally aware)
It’s funny that the LA riots have been mentioned multiple times. They broke out after the police offers were charged and subsequently acquitted. Now that these police officers have been charged, I shudder to think what will happen if they are not eventually convicted. Hopefully, the city of Baltimore will be more prepared then because they really dropped the ball with the riots earlier this week.
Baltimore will lose tons of businesses and anyone who can afford to get out will. the police department will be depleted of officers getting out ASAP and the ones who remain will put in zero effort , never be proactive and make no arrests. (crime will spike to levels unseen in decades)the city will continue to spiral quickly and will not rebound. it is not LA or NYC which has a draw to it. Baltimore need only look to Flint Michigan or Detroit to see it’s future! it had started to rebound in the last 10-15 years…that is now erased. john hopkins even with it’s super status name brand will suffer…how much is the real question.
Rather a pessimistic view for sure, but you are entitled to your opinion. What I see is resilience and people pulling together. The prosecutor has certainly reacted swiftly and strongly and that seems to have received very positive response from the community. The problems that brought this on, however, will not be easily fixed in Baltimore or elsewhere. Johns Hopkins and those educated there who stay to become part of the community certainly can make their contributions and that is also a plus.
madamcrabster…pessimistic does not mean it is not realistic. and I can all but assure you that the prosecutor will be removed form the case and most if not all those charges will be tossed. they are so over the top and her conflict of interests are very numerous and beyond acceptable bounds. she actually could end up being disbarred down the road . we have the rule of law still, not mob rule.
Always nice to get a taste of how different people think to broaden and keep other perspectives in mind. It will be interesting to see how this process plays out. In the meantime, my hope, and what I seem to be observing, is that people are now awakened and ready to make some change!