<p>keep in mind that the article was the NY Times. National paper perhaps, but with a very NE perspective. I suspect most of their readership (maybe even the author) was mixing up UIC with UofC. 
The media does this. I was reading a guidebook for Bolivia a few days ago that mentioned the work of a well known UofC anthropologist, Alan Kolata. Got his work right, but said he was from UIC. Go figure.</p>
<p>At any rate, this safety/not safety debate will go on forever, but consider that the same debate goes on for other schools, too. Is Cornell a safety? Penn was thought to be so until very recently, and in some circles still is. Very curious.</p>