| The U of M Twin Cities campus (especially the east bank, where the majority of academic programs are located) is a very nice place to be. It is kept extremely clean, lawns are well manicured, and a lot of time and effort goes into upkeep. There are many historic buildings, all well maintenanced, marble benches, and maroon and gold flowers everywhere in the Spring. The first time I visited campus, I stood looking at it in nothing less than amazement. The word "ghetto" is the complete opposite of words that should be used to describe it.
It is not in a crime ridden part of the city, nor does it border one. Really, the only people you ever see around campus are students, professors, and visiting professionals. I did see campus police run some skateboarders off of the mall area one time, because they were scratching the crap out of the marble with the bottoms of their boards. And about once a month I receive a message in my student email regarding a crime, usually something along the lines of a stolen ipod while walking down the street in the middle of the night. It only takes a little common sense to realize that a person shouldn't be alone on a busy street in the city in the middle of the night. All and all, I don't think it could be a safer place if it were in the middle of farmland. Where there are thousands of young adults, there is bound to be a little trouble every now and then. I would say that probably holds true on every college campus. The U of M is no different, no worse. |