Recent Violent Incidents at College Campuses - Negative Affect on Applications?

[dbwes]

Those of us with students at urban campuses think about crime all the time. There is some crime in the surrounding areas of D's school, but it did not discourage her from applying. She has urban street smarts, though, and she doesn't wander around late at night on her own. Campus security is very good, and while the kids are all aware (or should be), I venture to say it doesn't impact their day to day life that much.

[Dean J]

The crime report for my own alma mater had columns full of zeros when I was a student there, though I knew of numerous cases of theft, assault, and underage drinking. Somehow the laws allowed a way around reporting those incidents. Today, my alma mater's report looks a bit different and I don't think that is because the campus has become less safe.

Most schools have better reporting mechanisms than those that were in place when I was in school, which is a good thing. What's more, I think students are more apt to report crimes that they might not have years ago. We also have easier access to news from other regions than we have in the past.

[Debruns]

That is true, my husband told me there were easier ways in the past to get around reporting, calling certain things by another name, but they "usually" have to be more honest now. You will notice although some colleges seem to have lower alcohol incidences, "medical" reports contain trips to the hospital, usually are because of drinking. The reporting wasn't being elusive because of the officer's report, but how the administration wanted the stats to look. In some ways you can't blame them, with so many underage drinkers, the numbers would be very high, but it's also looking at it with rose colored glasses.
There are also many unreported sexual assault cases, for many reasons, and you should never lull yourself into thinking that one school is that much safer than another. Off campus,obviously a town like Madison NJ will have less crime than Philidelphia or New Haven, but crime happens everywhere.

[toledo]

you should never lull yourself into thinking that one school is that much safer than another.

Totally disagree! While crimes happen on all campuses, there are HUGE differences between them. It's wise for parents and students to check into this before selecting a college or before signing the rental agreement on that off-campus apartment. Talk to other students, find the Cleary report, read the local newspaper, read the campus newspaper, find the online web sites on campus crime, that have been popping up in recent years, because people ARE starting to compare.

[Debruns]

Toledo, off-campus is different, UConn for instance has many more instances off-campus crime, for obvious reasons, same as Yale and other colleges. Students aren't always thinking of personal safety and sometimes will take a lower priced apartment because of finances, that aren't in very good neighborhoods or very isolated.
My point is, having a family in law enforcement, is don't just go by statistics and always be safe, don't get lulled into thinking you are in a "good neighborhood" and let your guard down. I grew up in a great suburb but had things stolen, etc., living in a big city, with more crime, we haven't.
I want my children to be safe, but I know, no matter how careful we are, crime and assualts will happen everywhere.

[toledo]

I guess my point is that you need to consider the area around the campus, as well as the campus. If you think your son or daughter won't venture off campus, you may be wrong. The Cleary Act just measures on-campus crimes. That's why you need to check out other sources.
I have a son living on an urban campus, where crime is up dramatically. Part of the reason may be the recent cuts in the city's police force. Part of it may be the increase in unemployment. He still likes the school and said he will stay unless he, or a close friend, become robbery victims (the primary problem in his area). Last year, his roommate was chased several blocks, but made it back to the dorm. He was thankful there was no gun involved.

[Debruns]

I understand your point. I live near Yale and see a lot of campus crime there but many times the students are not very smart. My neighbor had a child at Drexal that was robbed and he came home and went to a state school. That state school wasn't much safer, but he felt safer overall, which was more of a emotional decision.
My husband doesn't like Trinity in Ct because of the neighborhood but thinks New Haven is better, by crime stats.he also knows people there. It's a hard decision again, because although some neighborhoods/colleges seem worse on paper, others are also, but because of reporting negligence, seem better.
Parents give him odd looks on tours because that is his area of questions, but it's important to know how security is, what is available and how they respond.

[lunitari]

D1 is at college in Los Angeles and D2 is considering some urban colleges out east...so yes, I think about it. But they're young adults now and I can't lock them away in a bubble to keep them safe. I can only hope that the caution and common sense I instilled in them all these years counts for something.

And realistically, the biggest safety risks they'll face are 1) driving places with friends and 2) being at college parties where there's drinking. Those things happen everywhere.